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India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Concerning History

This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.

Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

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

Management Questions

The review also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press