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

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.

Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.

Critics and players have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the showings of the squad.

Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Management Questions

The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press