India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
