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

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.

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

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

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

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press