India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
