India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
