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The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the final of this season too.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press