Former all-rounder Brian McMillan has labelled the Proteas as ‘headless chickens’ in the wake of this week’s 3-0 Test series defeats at the hands of India.

Victories in Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi brought India a maiden clean sweep in a three-Test series against South Africa since 1993’s first meeting.

‘We’re at rock bottom. We’re like headless chickens running around everywhere. There’s no direction and no leadership,’ McMillan was quoted by the Times of India.

‘There is also a rumour that the captain might be replaced, with the new skipper being the young Temba Bavuma.’

Test captain Faf du Plessis, however, will likely be retained for the series against England later this year.

‘How I see my journey unfolding with this team is to help with the transition period. This period is to try and make that process a bit smoother, identifying the next leaders, identifying the next captains, working with them, and then when that time is right, that time will be right,’ said Du Plessis.

‘That’s something we spoke about before that wasn’t necessarily the case before.’

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The Proteas were without recent Test retirees Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn in India. Batsman AB de Villiers and fast bowler Morne Morkel’s Test careers have also ended.

The squad featured three players uncapped at Test level – wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen, spinner Senuran Muthusamy and fast bowler Anrich Nortje – before the series started. A fourth, all-rounder George Linde, was added prior to the third and final Test.

‘I found the tour really tough. We have had a very mature Test team for a while, guys that have played 30, 40 and more Test matches. Now you look in the dressing room and it’s five, six, seven, eight, 10 Tests,’ added Du Plessis.