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

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition as well.

From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.

Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the team.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press