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India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.

From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press