Following India's shock 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first test at the Eden Gardens, head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed all criticism regarding the pitch, maintaining that the playing surface was exactly what the team had requested.
Speaking to reporters after the match concluded inside three days, Gambhir stated: "This is exactly the pitch we were looking for... The curator was very supportive, and this is exactly what we got." He stressed that the pitch was "not an unplayable wicket" and put the blame for the loss squarely on the players' lack of technique and temperament.
Gambhir highlighted the fact that although the discourse centered on exaggerated turn, the majority of the wickets in the match were taken by seamers. He noted that out of the 40 wickets that fell, most were claimed by pace bowlers, despite the surface showing variable bounce and assistance for spin.
The coach insisted that runs could be scored by batters willing to grind: "If you try to play attacking, it’ll be difficult. The players who defended well, like KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, scored runs." Sundar was India’s lone batsman in the fourth innings to face more than 50 deliveries, scoring 31 off 92 balls.
However, Gambhir's defense of the pitch was met with dissent from former players. Former India coach Anil Kumble expressed confusion, stating that while the team needs to grow, the Eden Gardens surface was not representative of good cricketing conditions.
Furthermore, former South Africa pace great Dale Steyn strongly disagreed with Gambhir's assessment that the pitch held "no demons." Steyn argued, "This wicket certainly has demons in it, that’s for sure. Any Test match that finishes within three days has got some demons in it, for sure."
The debate centers on whether the pitch tested skill or luck. Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara warned that playing on "rank turners," which has been a trend since 2020, leaves too much to chance. Pujara's prescription is for India to play on slightly better pitches that allow batters to score hundreds and reward skill over luck.
He urged Indian bowlers to back their skills rather than relying on an excessively unpredictable pitch: "Indian bowlers are so skilful that even if they play on a flat pitch, they will still be able to turn the ball, they will still be able to pick wickets. So, back your skills rather than just relying on the pitch."
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, whose gritty half-century was the highest score of the match, agreed that the pitch was likely prepared at the host's request and conceded that the extreme variation in bounce made cross-batted shots harder. Bavuma’s successful performance, which helped secure South Africa’s first Test win in India in 15 years, provided a clear template for the Indian batsmen: "You defend well, and then try and play your natural game."
