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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first 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 South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the decider of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

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

Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press