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India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team 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 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

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

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.

While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the team.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press