India’s crushing 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens has drawn sharp reactions with Kris Srikkanth launching a scathing attack on the home team. Chasing a target of 124 runs against South Africa on 16 November, India were all out for just 93 runs.
After the embarrassing defeat, former Indian captain Srikkanth said that the national team fell straight into its own trap. The pitch, which was designed to favor India’s spinners, began behaving wildly from the first session itself, with some balls sitting low, some falling high and some spinning sharply at the Eden Gardens.
Kris Srikkanth criticizes India after 2.5 day defeat at Eden Gardens
Instead of helping the hosts, the surface completely exposed their struggle against quality spin. And Chris Srikkanth made it clear that the Test finishing in two and a half days was an indication that there was something seriously wrong with the wicket. The former Indian chief selector pointed to the shocking scorecard – 159, 189, 153, 93 – to show how neither batsman on either side could rely on bounce.
Also read: After the terrible defeat, the Indian cricket team refused to leave Eden Garden, left Guwahati alone.
Chris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, “The wicket was a terrible wicket. Gambhir said after the match that there were no demons in the wicket, but come on, it was a terrible wicket. This was not a Test match wicket. If the game ends in 2.5 days, there is clearly something wrong with the wicket.”
The former Indian chief selector said, “On these turning tracks, India are on the backfoot. See the scores: 159, 189, 153, 93. Obviously, there is something wrong with the wicket. On the first day, Bumrah bowled a full ball to Markram that almost went over his head. It’s up and down for the fast bowlers; it’s turning square for the spinners. On this surface, even if it was me, I would have taken the wicket. “Stump-to-stump bowling would have worked.”
Kris Srikkanth criticizes India’s selection mistake
Even fast bowlers like Bumrah were getting balls flying unexpectedly, while the spinners had the ball turning square. The former Indian opener also raised questions on India’s team selection. India went with four spinners – Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
But Sundar did not bowl a single ball in the second innings. Srikkanth found it unbelievable that the team chose an extra spinner but never used him, especially on a pitch designed to turn.
Also read: “Effective, fearless, unforgettable”: Mohsin Naqvi on cloud nine as Pakistan beats India in Asia Cup
While Jadeja took four wickets in South Africa’s second innings, his efforts were nullified by Simon Harmer, whose seven wickets cost India the blow of the match. In the first innings, it was Bumrah and Siraj who really carried the workload by taking seven wickets each, raising even more questions over the strategy of loading the attack with spinners.
Srikkanth questions Washington Sundar’s role in India XI at Eden Gardens
Srikkanth also highlighted that India have repeatedly struggled on spinning tracks in recent years. He mentioned how bowlers like Steve O’Keefe, Ajaz Patel, Matthew Kuhnman and now Simon Harmer have dominated India on turning surfaces.
He concluded by saying, “They played 4 spinners, and one spinner (Sundar) didn’t even bowl. In the second innings he didn’t bowl a single ball. I don’t understand the logic behind picking 4 spinners. My problem is not with picking Washington and playing him at No. 3, but with not giving him any kind of bowling.”
