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Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the Eden Gardens pitch and curator after South Africa thrashed India by 30 runs in the first Test in Kolkata to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. South Africa successfully defended the target of 124 runs in India's second innings by bundling out the hosts for 93 runs in a tricky chase on a sluggish track at the iconic venue.
Barring Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, no other batter looked comfortable on the pitch in India's second innings as the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals to fall short in the run chase. Amid intense criticism of the pitch at the Eden Gardens, Gambhir said the track was exactly what India had asked for as he questioned the application of his batters.
The India head coach said the wicket was not unplayable as he defended the curator Sujan Mukherjee after India's 30-run loss in the first Test at the Eden Gardens. Gambhir emphasised that the batters who played according to the conditions and utilised their defensive technique scored runs on the tacky pitch.
"It was not an unplayable wicket. This pitch is exactly what we asked for and this is what we got. The curator, Sujan Mukherjee, was very supportive. I think it's a wicket that can judge your mental toughness, because those who played with good defence scored runs," Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.
With skipper Shubman Gil not available to bat in the second innings due to a neck injury, Indian batters' frailties against spin were left exposed once again in home conditions. On an underprepared track that deteriorated further over two days, South Africa spinner Simon Harmer wreaked havoc as he picked up eight wickets across two innings.
In pursuit of the 124-run target, which Gambhir thought was chaseable, India lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (1) cheaply in back-to-back overs before the others too failed to deliver. Highlighting the innings of South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma, who scored an unbeaten 55 for the visitors in the 2nd innings and Washington Sundar, who top-scored for India in the chase with 31 off 92 balls, Gambhir said there were no demons on the pitch.
"There were no demons. Axar, Temba, Washington - they all made runs. If you say this is a turning wicket, remember that the majority of wickets were taken by seamers," said the India head coach.
Gambhir insisted he didn't feel it was a difficult wicket and admitted that it was exactly what the Indian team management had asked for. He questioned the temperament and execution of the Indian batters, stating that those who defended well managed to get runs on the difficult wicket.
"I don't think this was that difficult a wicket. It was a challenge of technique, mental toughness, and temperament. If you are looking to grind and bat long, you can make runs. But if you are in an attacking mindset, then it becomes difficult. Whoever has defended well - KL Rahul, Bavuma, Washington Sundar - they made runs. So if you have a solid defence, it's not a wicket where you can't make runs. We have played on wickets like this before," Gambhir added.
South Africa claimed their first Test victory on Indian soil after 15 years with the 30-run win at the Eden Gardens. They last won a Test match in India in February 2010. The two teams will now meet in the second Test at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, starting Saturday, November 22.
