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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.

Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the showings of the team.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

At his post-series press