India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
