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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

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

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season also.

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.

Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the side.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press