India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
