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

Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win 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 unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.

From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was obvious in the performances of the squad.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press