Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke openly on the criticism regarding the Eden Gardens pitch after the defeat in the first Test against South Africa. Gambhir said that players like Temba Bavuma, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar were able to score, which proved that there were no devils on the pitch.
India suffered one of the most disappointing defeats on home soil. Chasing a modest target of 124 runs, he was out for 93 runs in Kolkata on Sunday, 16 November. They have now lost four of their last six home Tests under Gautam Gambhir. The only exception is India’s 2–0 series win over the West Indies.
This pitch is what we asked for – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir supported the Eden Gardens pitch, saying it was deliberately prepared to suit the home team’s plans. Gambhir said that the pitch was unplayable and it exposed the flaws in India’s batting.
Gambhir said in the post-match press conference, “This pitch is what we asked for and that’s what we got; the curator here was very supportive. I don’t think it is a difficult wicket. I think it is a wicket that can judge your mental strength, because those who play with good defense have scored runs.”
“More than skill, I think it’s about the ability to handle pressure. When you look at technique, mental toughness and temperament, pitches like this really allow batsmen to develop and test themselves. Even when there was so much turn on offer, most of the wickets went to the fast bowlers. The point is that you have to know how to play the turn. That’s what we asked for and that’s what we got.”
I felt the curator was very supportive – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir admitted that the pitch did not allow free stroke-play, but patient batting would have paid off. Gambhir said that they failed to play well, which led to the disappointing result.
Gambhir further added, “I felt the curator was very helpful, and I still believe that 123 runs could have been chased no matter what the wicket was like. If you are prepared to put your head down, have a solid defense and temperament, you can definitely score runs.”
“It may not be a wicket where you can be aggressive or play big shots, but if you are patient, you can score. This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. As I said earlier, the curator was very helpful. It is exactly what we wanted, and when you don’t play well, that’s what happens,” he concluded.
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