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India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph 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 positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.

From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.

Today, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press