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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.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.

While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the team.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press