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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished 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. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.

Now, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press