The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 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 defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
