More equipped to handle SENA conditions" - Former selector's massive take on India's 2-0 loss to South Africa

Former selector Saba Karim believes that young Indian batters have become more adept at tackling SENA conditions, but are struggling to play spin at home. He urged the BCCI to again start preparing turning tracks in domestic cricket, so that upcoming batters can hone their skills against the spinning ball.

India lost the two-match Test series to South Africa 2-0 at home. After going down by 30 runs in the first match in Kolkata, they suffered a 408-run defeat in the second Test in Guwahati. Proteas off spinner Simon Harmer proved too good for the hosts as he claimed 17 wickets in the series at an average of 8.94.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Karim admitted that BCCI's decision to prepare hard tracks in domestic cricket has aided young batters in their SENA challenges. He, however, lamented that the shift has also been responsible for the team's struggles at home on turning tracks. He commented:

"Even in domestic cricket, we don’t find these kind of surfaces [Guwahati pitch]. This is the perfect Test cricket pitch for Indian conditions. In 2012-13, the Indian board decided that we should prepare fast and hard surfaces that will help our young batters adapt better when we travel to SENA countries. That wish has been to a large extent fulfilled. Now, young Indian batters are more equipped to handle SENA conditions.

"Unfortunately, in the bargain, we have failed to prepare turning wickets also. Now is the time for BCCI to come up with a system where you can provide both kind of surfaces," the former India keeper added.

Washington Sundar was India's top run-getter in the two-match Test series against South Africa. In four innings, he scored 124 runs at an average of 31, with a best of 48. Ravindra Jadeja (105) was the only other Indian batter to score more than 100 runs in the series.

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"Requires a major overhaul" - Saba Karim on the way forward for India in Tests after defeat to South Africa

Karim has urged the Indian selectors and team management to dig deep and go back to the drawing board if they want to lift the side's Test fortunes. He opined that the time has come to go back to picking players on basis of domestic performances. The former India selector said:

"You have go back to the drawing board to look at players who have done well at the Ranji Trophy level. Give them opportunities for India A. On so many occasions, we go on recency of performance in white-ball cricket. That is not going to help us. It requires a major overhaul."

Having lost the two-match Test series against South Africa, India will now take on the Proteas in three ODIs, which will be followed by five T20Is.