India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
