India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
