India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
