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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.

Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered 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 do well in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the team.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press