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India'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 their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.

From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.

Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press