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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

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

A Promising Start Disappears

The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle too.

From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Today, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.

While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press