India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
