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India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.

Currently, India seem beatable in their own backyard.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.

While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

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

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.

Management Questions

The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press