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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, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

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

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.

Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have identified several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press