The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
