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

Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season also.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing 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 altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the side.

Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press