India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
