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

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.

Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the squad.

Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press