India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
