India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
