India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
