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India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

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

From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press