Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, has strongly defended the Eden Gardens pitch following their first Test loss to South Africa, stating unequivocally that the team requested these conditions. He dismissed notions of the pitch being problematic, describing it as a true test of a cricketer’s mental resilience. India’s batting lineup capitulated in the fourth innings, scoring just 93 runs, a performance Gambhir attributed to a lack of temperament and pressure handling rather than the pitch itself. He pointed out that the curator was supportive and provided exactly what was asked for. The challenging surface led to South Africa securing a historic 30-run victory, their first Test win on Indian soil in 15 years. Gambhir stressed that even on a turning track, a solid defense and patience can yield runs, citing that seamers also took numerous wickets. He maintained that the target of 123 was manageable if the batters applied themselves correctly, reinforcing that the pitch was not the primary issue. This loss has reignited discussions about India’s ability to perform on spin-friendly home grounds.
