India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press