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India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the showpiece of this season too.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Today, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the squad.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press