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

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press