India's test against South Africa has started with a surprising South African victory by 30 runs, marking the Proteas' first Test win in India in 15 years and India's first defeat at Eden Gardens in 13
years.
The match was played on a pitch that provided variable bounce and significant turn, with cracks appearing by the second day, resulting in low scores in all innings and an overall total of just 594 runs across the match, which lasted only eight sessions. South Africa defended a modest target of 124 runs when India was bowled out for 93, with spinners like Simon Harmer and bowlers like Marco Jansen playing key roles in triggering Indian batting collapses.
Post-match, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the pitch, confirming that the Indian management had requested a surface that offered such challenging conditions to test the batters' technique and temperament. Gambhir dismissed claims that the pitch was unplayable and slammed the batters.
"This is what we asked for, and we are happy with what we got. This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. The curator was very helpful," Gambhir said.
He criticized the Indian batsmen for their failure to adapt, saying, "If you don't play well, this is what happens. It wasn't an unplayable wicket. It was a wicket where your technique and temperament were tested. If you have a solid defence, you can score on such wickets. "
The coach emphasized that handling pressure and absorbing it was crucial in international cricket, and it was more about the batters' inability to embrace the challenge rather than a lack of skill.
Gambhir also defended Axar Patel's attacking approach against Keshav Maharaj, stating it was the best option in the given context, despite the risk involved. Overall, Gambhir maintained confidence in the team's ability to deliver in any condition and reiterated that the pitch was chosen to reduce the impact of the toss and provide a fair challenge for both teams.
The Indian team will be taking on the Proteas again in the 2nd Test in Guwahati, aiming to restore parity in the series. The match in Guwahati will also witness a unique phenomenon as Tea will be taken before Lunch to ensure maximum game time in the day's play.
