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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Now, the team look to be beatable at home.

Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

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

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press