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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Critics and players have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the performances of the squad.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press