India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
