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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season too.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.

Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.

Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press