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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this season also.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.

Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.

Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.

Management Questions

The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press