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

Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.

While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

At his post-series press