India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
