India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
