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

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.

Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.

Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the side.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press