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India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.

Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the showings of the squad.

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

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press