India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
