India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
