India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
