India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
