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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the decider of this season too.

From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.

Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India 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.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.

Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

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

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the squad.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press