India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
