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

In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition as well.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.

Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the side.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press