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

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

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

From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.

Now, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press