India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
