India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
