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

Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.

Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.

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

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis 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 at home recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.

Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the squad.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press