The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
