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

Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.

From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, India look to be beatable at home.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press