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

Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this edition also.

From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.

Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.

Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

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

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Management Questions

The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press