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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

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

From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press