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

In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.

Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press