India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain 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 well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
