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

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle as well.

From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.

Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

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

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press