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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the final of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.

Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Experts and participants have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the squad.

Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press