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India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.

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

Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.

Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the squad.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press