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

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Disappears

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.

From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.

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

Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.

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

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Management Questions

The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press