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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.

From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.

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

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was obvious in the displays of the side.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press