India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis 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 the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
