India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
