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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.

From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.

Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press