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India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the final of this season as well.

From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Now, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, 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 complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the performances of the squad.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press