India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But 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 clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
