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India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.

From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.

Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press