India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
