India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
