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

Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.

Now, the team seem beatable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the squad.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press