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

Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the squad.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press