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

In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this season too.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.

Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press