India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
