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India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.

From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.

While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press