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

Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.

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

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the squad.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press