India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
