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

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.

From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the team.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press