India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
