The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
