Bhuvneshwar Kumar breaks silence on team India for the 1st time after Gautam Gambhir's takeover

India’s embarrassing 30-run loss to South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata has sparked massive debate, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar has defended the side.

It was India’s first home loss to the Proteas in 15 years, with the experts blasting their shaky batting lineup and for preparing a heavily ranked turner at the Eden Gardens.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar urges calm as critics attack turning track

Many critics pointed out that India had not learned anything from last year’s 0–3 home drubbing against New Zealand, where spin dominated the series. But Bhuvneshwar has defended the team and the Kolkata surface with a bold statement.

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The swing king reminded everyone that India has played on such turning tracks for years and insisted the pitch was not the villain this time. He also pointed out that no one complains when India wins on similar wickets, urging fans to look at the bigger picture instead of panicking after one setback.

South African bowlers made the most of the spin-heavy track, as India failed to chase a small target of 124, and the match ended inside three days. This defeat has definitely exposed India’s fragile batting, but Bhuvneshwar believes ups and downs are natural and the team will bounce back.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar rejects panic after Eden Gardens collapse

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was quoted as saying by PTI: “This is not the first time a spin-friendly track has been prepared. No one raised this question (before) because India was winning. And winning and losing is part of the game. It's not that the team has not lost before or that it has lost for the first time. I don't think it's (defeat) a big worry for me.”

Several cricket experts have slammed India’s decision to play four spinners—Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar—at the Eden Gardens. However, the Indian seamer backed the move, saying the team picked the best combination for the spinner-friendly conditions.

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He added, “The way the wicket was prepared, we all know that the requirement was for four spinners (Axar, Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Sundar). We had some good spinners; it was a turning track, and the way the match went, it was a good decision to play (four) spinners.”

Shubman Gill’s absence hurts India as Bhuvneshwar Kumar defends captain's workload awareness

India missed captain Shubman Gill badly during the first Test after he was sidelined with a neck injury, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar refused to comment on whether his workload was to blame. The Indian seamer has stressed that Gill understands his own body and can make his own call.

He signed off by saying, “Gill has become captain recently. If he so desired, he would speak out for himself. He is part of the think tank and decision-making, so if he really needs rest, he will say that he needs rest. Mentally and physically, he is in a position to say that.”

Notably, South Africa is currently leading the Test series 1-0, with the second and final Test scheduled in Guwahati, starting on November 22. Following the two-match Test series, India and South Africa will face each other in three ODIs and five T20Is.