India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
