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

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press