"When you prepare wickets like these, you cannot assume that you will the toss" - Saba Karim criticizes India's batting in IND vs NZ 2024 Test series

Saba Karim has criticized India's batting in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. He opined that the hosts were potentially expecting to win the toss and weren't prepared enough to bat second on turning pitches.

India suffered a 25-run defeat in the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai on Sunday, November 3. The hosts lost the series 0-3, having already suffered crushing defeats in the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Saba Karim was asked about his thoughts on India's 0-3 series loss.

"The biggest picture that emerges is that all three matches got over within two-and-a-half to three days. The match went into the fifth day in Bengaluru because of rain. We have prepared these kinds of wickets. So your preparation should have been such that you play at least three to four sessions both in the first and second innings," he responded.

"This is the biggest indication that India's batting was a total failure in the entire series. We didn't prepare for this. There is one more thing. When you prepare wickets like these, you cannot assume that you will the toss, and get to bat first," the former India wicketkeeper-batter added.

Saba Karim noted the hosts could neither post a big first-innings total while batting second nor chase targets in the final innings.

"You have to prepare in such a way that you might have to bat second and do a run chase in the fourth innings as well. This happened in the last two Test matches. You neither posted a big score in your first innings nor did you succeed in the run chase," he observed.

Rohit Sharma lost the toss in the second and third Tests in spin-friendly conditions. India failed to reach the 300-run mark in any of their four innings across the two Tests, with a 263-run total in the first innings in Mumbai being their best effort.

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"It's time for India to introspect" - Saba Karim on India's approach to batting

The Indian batters struggled against the New Zealand spinners. [P/C: BCCI]

In the same discussion, Saba Karim questioned whether the Indian batters have the required attributes to play on turning pitches.

"It's time for India to introspect. Are our batters equipped to play in these spinning conditions? The bowling was still good. We also rediscovered Washington Sundar. (Ravindra) Jadeja did what he has been doing often, but in the end, batting is extremely important," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Indian batters seemed hasty in their approach.

"You need application, temperament, and a sound technique to bat in these conditions. I feel the one thing that came to the forefront in all three Test matches was that the Indian batters were in a tearing hurry to score quick runs. You don't need that here. In the end, it's a five-day Test match," Saba Karim elaborated.

Rishabh Pant (261) was the only Indian player to aggregate more than 200 runs in the three-match series. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were particularly found wanting, scoring 93 and 91 runs, respectively, in six innings apiece.