India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
