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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

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

The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.

A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the performances of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press