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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.

From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.

Now, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the side.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Management Questions

The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press