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

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.

Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.

Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was obvious in the performances of the squad.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press