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India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season too.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.

Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the side.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

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

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press