India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
