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India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season also.

After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.

Now, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the squad.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press