India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
