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

Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this edition also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.

Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press