India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
