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

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.

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

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press