India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
