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India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

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

In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have identified various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press