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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this season also.

From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

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

Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.

At his post-series press