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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Disappears

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.

Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press