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India's shocking 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 their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, India seem beatable in their own backyard.

Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press