India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
