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

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the performances of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, 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 the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press