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India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.

Today, India seem vulnerable at home.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.

While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the squad.

Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press