India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
