The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
