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India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, India look to be beatable at home.

Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.

Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press