India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
