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

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the decider of this season too.

From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.

While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.

Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Management Questions

The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press