India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
