India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas 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 loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
