India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century 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 all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
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 suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
