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The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.

Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Management Questions

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press