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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

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

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the final of this edition as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press