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India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season also.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.

Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.

Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press