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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.

Today, India seem easy pickings at home.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the side.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.

Management Questions

The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press