India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
