India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, India seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
