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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

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

From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.

Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press