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India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.

Concerning History

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season too.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.

Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.

Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press