India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
