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India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season too.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, India seem beatable at home.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the side.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press