India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
