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

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have pointed to several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press