India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
