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

Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.

Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press