India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
