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India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.

Now, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the team.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.

At his post-series press