India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
