India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
