'No demons': Gambhir defends Eden Gardens pitch despite loss
What's the story
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the pitch at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, saying it had "no demons." This comes despite India's 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test. The Indian team was bowled out for just 93 runs in their final innings, marking their third-lowest fourth-innings total in Test cricket history. The wicket was criticized by external observers for its inconsistent bounce and excessive turn.
Curator's role
Gambhir praises curator for delivering expected pitch
Gambhir emphasized that the Eden Gardens pitch was exactly what they had asked for. He praised curator Sujan Mukherjee for being very supportive during the process. "It was not an unplayable wicket. This pitch is exactly what we asked for, and this is what we got," Gambhir said at a post-match press conference. "I think it's a wicket that can judge your mental toughness, because those who played with good defense scored runs," he added.
Mental resilience
Gambhir highlights mental toughness as key factor
Gambhir also cited the examples of Temba Bavuma and Washington Sundar, who were among the runs on the same surface. While Bavuma (55*) recorded the only 40-plus score of the game, Washington Sundar, made 31 and 29 in his two outings. "There were no demons. Axar (Patel), Temba, Washington - they all made runs. If you say this is a turning wicket, remember that the majority of wickets were taken by seamers," he said.
Spin strategy
Gambhir defends India's request for spin-friendly pitch
Gambhir also defended India's decision to ask for a spin-friendly pitch from day one. He said this was done so that the toss wouldn't play a major role in determining the outcome of the match. "We ask for the pitch to aid spinners from day one so that the toss doesn't become crucial," he said.
Wicket difficulty
Gambhir downplays difficulty of the wicket
Gambhir downplayed the difficulty level of the wicket, saying it was more about technique, mental toughness, and temperament. He said if players were willing to grind and bat long, runs could be scored. "I don't think this was that difficult a wicket. It was a challenge of technique, mental toughness, and temperament," he said in his post-match comments.
Summary
How did the game pan out?
SA were all out for 159 batting first as Bumrah claimed a fifer. Aiden Markram (31) top-scored for them. In response, India posted 189/10 with KL Rahul (39) and Sundar (29) making the top contributions. SA managed 153/10 in their second outing with skipper Bavuma scoring 55*. Chasing 124 for victory, India lost regular wickets and were eventually folded for 93.