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

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one 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 multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the team.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press