Unconquerable Not Anymore: The Reasons The Indian Test Match Standing Has Crumbled

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

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this season too.

From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.

While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

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

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the side.

Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

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

Coaching Scrutiny

The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press