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India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the decider of this cycle too.

From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the team.

Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press