India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
