India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press