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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Concerning History

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

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

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the squad.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press