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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.

Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.

Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the performances of the team.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press