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

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.

Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the squad.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press