The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
