India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
