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

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.

Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press