The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
