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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' 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 decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season too.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press