The Indian cricket team's unexpected 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 Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
