India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
