India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
