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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

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

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.

From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.

Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press