India's surprising 0-2 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 defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
