India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
