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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the final of this edition too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.

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

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.

Experts and participants have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, 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 showings of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press