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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

Currently, India seem easy pickings at home.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press