The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
