The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
