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

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test 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, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the team.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

At his post-series press