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

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.

Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

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

Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press