The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
