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India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Today, India appear to be beatable at home.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

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

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press