India's unexpected 0-2 defeat 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 loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
