India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
