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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.

Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have identified various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press