India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
