India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
