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India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Disappears

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the decider of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.

Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press