India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
