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

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.

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

Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was obvious in the displays of the side.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press