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

Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.

From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.

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

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press