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

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press