The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
