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

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Concerning History

This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this cycle too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.

Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.

Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the performances of the side.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

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

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press