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India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.

After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.

Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.

Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press