The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
