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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.

After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

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 benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

In his post-series press