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India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team handed 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 home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.

From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.

Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the displays of the squad.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press