India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
