India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
