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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.

Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the team.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Management Questions

The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press