India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
