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India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season also.

From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

Now, India seem beatable at home.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the performances of the team.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press