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India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.

Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.

From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.

Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press