India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players 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 fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
