India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
