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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.

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

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.

Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the showings of the team.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.

Management Questions

The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press