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India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

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

The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.

After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.

Today, the team seem beatable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the performances of the team.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Management Questions

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press