India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
