India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle 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, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
