India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
