Cheteshwar Pujara has subtly fired back at India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir over his comments on the Eden Gardens pitch following India’s 30-run loss to South Africa in the opening Test of the two-match series. India’s chase of a modest 124-run target ended in disappointment as they succumbed to the South African spin attack, led brilliantly by Simon Harmer, who bagged eight wickets in the match.

This victory marked South Africa’s first Test win on Indian soil since 2010 – a statement of intent from the visitors. After the defeat, Gambhir remarked that the pitch was exactly what India had requested.

He maintained that the Eden Gardens curator had delivered a surface tailored to the team’s needs, stating, “This is exactly the pitch we were looking for… when you don’t play well, this is what happens.” His assertion implied that the Indians didn’t lose because of the conditions but rather due to inadequate technique against spin.

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However, Pujara offered a different perspective while speaking on JioStar. The experienced former India batter disagreed with Gambhir’s assessment, insisting that the pitch played a significant role in India’s batting woes. “I disagree with Gauti bhai that the pitch didn’t contribute to India’s batting struggles. This surface was clearly tough to bat on. No one except Temba Bavuma managed to cross fifty,” said Cheteshwar Pujara, highlighting the extreme turning nature of the wicket.

Pujara further argued that Indian batters were not entirely prepared for such conditions, despite being accustomed to turning tracks at home. He stressed the need for adjustments in shot selection and approach: “On turning tracks, you need different shot selection, more sweeps, and positive intent to keep the scoreboard moving. Our batters must prepare better instead of expecting usual batting-friendly surfaces.”

He singled out South African captain Temba Bavuma as an example of how to tackle such pitches. “Bavuma showed that you can score here by playing differently, using sweeps and showing positive intent. This wicket doesn’t allow traditional Test-match batting where you block and grind,” said Pujara.

Interestingly, Indian batters had averaged over 53 against spinners at home between 2016 and 2019, but that number has dropped sharply to 33.8 since 2020. This downward trend highlights a worrying decline in India’s proficiency against spin – a former strength that has now become a problem area.

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With the series on the line, India will have to regroup quickly for the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, starting November 22. A win there could salvage pride and underline whether the pitch at Eden or poor preparation was truly to blame for their surprise defeat.