India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
