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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle also.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.

Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press