India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
