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

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.

From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, India seem beatable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the side.

Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press