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India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season also.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.

Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's humiliating loss 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 displays of the squad.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press