The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
