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

In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Today, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, 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 side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the team.

Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press