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

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.

Today, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the team.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press