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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Disappears

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.

Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.

Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the team.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press