The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
