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

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.

Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.

Management Questions

The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press