India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
