India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances 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.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
