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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.

From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.

Today, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the showings of the side.

Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

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

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press