India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
