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India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team'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 Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.

Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press