India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
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 nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
