There appears to be a growing disconnect between India’s Test captain, Shubman Gill, and head coach Gautam Gambhir when it comes to the strategy around home pitches. This divide was glaring after India’s stunning loss to South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens, where the hosts were bowled out twice on a turning surface, suffering a 30-run defeat.
Gill had suggested a shift in India’s approach to preparing pitches. Ahead of the recent home series against the West Indies, he stated that India would focus on sporting pitches that offer a balance between bat and ball. “We would be looking to play on wickets that offer both to the batsmen and to the bowlers,” Gill had said confidently.
Yet, the Eden Gardens pitch told a different story. Showing wear and tear from Day 1, the surface prompted sharp turns and uneven bounce throughout the match, resulting in 38 wickets falling in under three days. Spinners accounted for 22 of these, while pacers claimed 16. India, having failed to chase down a modest 124, were left reeling as South Africa secured their first win at the venue in 15 years.
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Gambhir, however, defended the playing conditions. He claimed the pitch was exactly what India had prepared for and blamed his batters for the defeat, insisting that their lack of application was to blame. “Ultimately, if we had won this Test match, you wouldn’t even be talking about this pitch,” he said dismissively when questioned about the surface.
But several players and experts, including KL Rahul and Aiden Markram, disagreed. Both watched deliveries rear up dangerously from a length, catching them off guard. Legends like Cheteshwar Pujara, Harbhajan Singh, and Dale Steyn have joined the chorus of criticism, calling the pitch unsuitable for Test cricket.
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India have now lost four of their last six home Tests, signalling a decline in their once-unassailable dominance on home soil. As the team prepares for the next Test, the contrasting views of Gill and Gambhir raise critical questions — should India chase quick wins on abrasive tracks, or trust their batters and bowlers to perform on more balanced, competitive surfaces? The answer may determine the fate of their season, and perhaps the direction of Indian Test cricket itself.
