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

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. 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 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press