India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
