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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press