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India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this season too.

From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.

Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press