India's 0-2 whitewash at the hands of South Africa has triggered intense scrutiny from fans, pundits, and former players. The defeat comes on the heels of a 0-3 drubbing at home by New Zealand last year and a 1-3 collapse Down Under that cost India a spot in the World Test Championship final for the first time.

For a team that once strung together an unprecedented 18 consecutive home series wins, the sudden slide into repeated home failures has raised deep questions about selections, tactics, coaching philosophy, and India's readiness against increasingly well-prepared touring sides.

Putting the decline in perspective

India have now lost five of their last seven home Tests, with only a 2-0 win over an injury raven West Indies breaking the sequence. The last time India endured a similar stretch - losing five Tests in a seven-match home span - was in the late 1950s. Back then, a 0-3 defeat to West Indies in 1958-59 was flanked by Test losses to Australia in 1956-57 and again in 1959-60.