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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible 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 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press