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India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.

From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press