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India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, India look to be beatable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.

While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

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

Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

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

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press