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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.

From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.

Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the squad.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The review also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press