In the aftermath of India’s surprising 30-run defeat against South Africa in the opening Test, head coach Gautam Gambhir has publicly supported the curator and the playing surface at Eden Gardens. Gambhir stated that the pitch was prepared according to the team’s explicit requests and that it was a fair test of skill and temperament, not a ‘demon’ pitch. India’s batting frailties were starkly exposed as they were all out for 93 in their chase, their third-lowest fourth-innings total in Test history. Gambhir argued that the pitch allowed batters to develop their game through solid defense and mental toughness, and that the target of 124 was indeed chaseable. He acknowledged the significant turn but noted that many wickets also went to the seamers. The decision to prepare such a surface, as confirmed by CAB president Sourav Ganguly, was aimed at challenging the Indian batsmen. Gambhir emphasized that while flamboyant play wasn’t an option, patience and technique were crucial for success. The loss, which saw South Africa claim their first Test win in India in a decade and a half, has brought the focus back to Indian batters’ struggles on challenging home tracks.
