India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
