India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
