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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the final of this season as well.

From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

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

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the side.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press