The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
