India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
