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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition too.

After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.

Today, the team look to be beatable at home.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

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

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the squad.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Management Questions

The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press