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

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle also.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.

Now, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the team.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press