India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
