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India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.

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

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Players such as 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 hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press