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India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Disappears

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team 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 red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press