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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

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

Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.

Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press