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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.

Now, India look to be beatable at home.

Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Management Questions

The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press