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

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

Today, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.

Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press