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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.

While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

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

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, 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, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press