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India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.

Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press