India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
