India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying 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 modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
