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

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season also.

From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.

Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.

Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press