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

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.

From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.

Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.

While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press