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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.

Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the showings of the squad.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press