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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the showings of the team.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press