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

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this edition also.

From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

Now, India seem beatable at home.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the team.

Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.

Management Questions

The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press