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

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition too.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.

Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press