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

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.

Today, India seem easy pickings at home.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the squad.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press