The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India 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 winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
