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

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.

Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.

From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press