The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
