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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

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

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press