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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the decider of this edition also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the team.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press