The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
