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India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press