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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the side.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press