India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
