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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the showpiece of this season too.

After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press