"This pitch is what we..." - Gautam Gambhir exposes truth about Eden Gardens pitch after defeat

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir opened up about the criticism surrounding the Eden Gardens pitch following the first Test loss against South Africa. Gambhir said that players like Temba Bavuma, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar were able to score, proving there weren’t any demons on the pitch.

India suffered one of their most disappointing home defeats. They were bowled out for 93 runs while chasing a modest target of 124 in Kolkata on Sunday, November 16. They have now lost four of their last six home Tests under Gautam Gambhir. India’s 2–0 series win over the West Indies remains the only exception.

This Pitch Is What We Asked For - Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir backed the Eden Gardens pitch, saying it was intentionally prepared to suit the home team’s plans. Gambhir said that the pitch wasn’t unplayable, and it exposed flaws in India’s batting.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

“This pitch is what we asked for and this is what we got; the curator here was very supportive. I don’t think it’s a difficult wicket. I think it’s a wicket that can judge your mental toughness, as ones who played with good defence scored runs,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.

“More than skill, I think it is about the ability to absorb pressure. When you look at technique, mental toughness and temperament, pitches like this actually allow batters to develop and test themselves. When there was so much turn on offer, the majority of wickets still went to the seamers. The point is that you should know how to play turn. This is what we asked for and this is what we got," he added.

I Thought the Curator Was Very Supportive - Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir acknowledged that the pitch did not allow free stroke-play, but patient batting would have been rewarded. Gambhir added that they failed to play well, which led to the disappointing outcome.

“I thought the curator was very supportive, and I still believe that irrespective of how the wicket played, 123 was chaseable. If you are willing to put your head down, have a solid defence and the temperament, you can definitely score runs,” Gambhir further stated.

“It may not be a wicket where you can be flamboyant or play big shots, but if you are patient, you can score. This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. As I said before, the curator was very helpful. This is exactly what we wanted, and when you don’t play well, this is what happens,” he concluded.

India Bowled Out for 93 in Final Innings at Eden Gardens

South Africa started the third day with only a small lead and three wickets remaining. However, Temba Bavuma and Corbin Bosch added 44 runs for the eighth wicket. Bavuma remained unbeaten on 55 and helped nearly double the overnight lead.

India were under pressure because Shubman Gill could not bat. Marco Jansen removed Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening over and dismissed KL Rahul in his next over, reducing India to a precarious position at 1 for 2 in the chase.

Simon Harmer dismantled India’s middle order. Keshav Maharaj struggled earlier in the innings, but he finished the match by grabbing the final two wickets. South Africa secured a 30-run victory as India collapsed during the run chase.

Also read: "Ravindra Jadeja was done with CSK" - Filthy details revealed