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India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season too.

From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.

Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the team.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press