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India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Today, India look to be easy pickings at home.

Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.

Critics and players have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the squad.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press