India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
