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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

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

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the squad.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press