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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.

From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.

Now, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

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

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

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

Management Questions

The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press