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India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.

From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.

While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the squad.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press