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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Today, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.

Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press