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India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this season also.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press