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

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this season too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Today, India seem beatable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press