Kolkata, November 16, 2025 - Team India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is defending the decision to prepare a spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens for the first Test against South Africa, despite the team's dramatic 30-run loss. The match, which concluded in under three days, saw India being bowled out for a paltry 93 while chasing a target of 124, with South African spinners wreaking havoc. The turning track has sparked widespread criticism from former cricketers and experts, but Gambhir remains adamant that the team got "exactly" what they wanted.
"This is exactly the pitch we wanted," Gambhir asserted after the defeat. "If we don't play well, this is what will happen. 124 was chaseable." He dismissed claims that the surface was unplayable, pointing out that seamers also contributed significantly to the wickets taken. "There were no demons in this wicket. It wasn't unplayable," he stated. "If we keep talking about the wicket, the majority of the wickets were by the seamers. This was a pitch where your technique, mental toughness, and temperament was tested."
However, Gambhir's defense comes amid a storm of controversy. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, now the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), has revealed that the Indian team management specifically requested the spin-friendly surface. Ganguly clarified that curator Sujan Mukherjee "cannot be blamed" as the pitch was prepared according to the team's wishes, and that the pitch was not watered for four days before the start of the Test to make it drier and more spin-friendly. "The pitch is what the Indian team wanted," Ganguly said. "This is what happens when you do not water the pitch for four days."
The decision to opt for a turning track has backfired spectacularly, exposing India's fragile batting lineup against quality spin bowling. None of the Indian top-order batsmen could handle the accuracy of South African spinner Simon Harmer, leading to a batting collapse in the second innings. The defeat has raised concerns about India's approach to home conditions, especially after last year's series loss to New Zealand on similar surfaces.
Critics argue that India is undermining its home advantage by preparing extreme turning tracks that turn batting into a lottery. The variable bounce and sharp turn on offer at Eden Gardens made it exceedingly difficult for batsmen from both sides, raising questions about the quality of cricket on display. Even India's bowling coach, Morne Morkel, admitted that the team did not anticipate the pitch deteriorating so rapidly.
Despite the criticism, Gambhir remains steadfast in his belief that the pitch was not to blame for the loss. He suggested that the Indian batsmen failed to apply themselves and that the surface, while challenging, was not impossible to bat on. He highlighted the importance of technique and temperament on such wickets.
Irfan Pathan had earlier pointed out the dilemma India faces in deciding between turning tracks and pitches suiting fast bowlers, especially with a strong pace attack at their disposal. However, he also noted that early winter conditions in Eastern India might not favor dry, spin-friendly surfaces.
The Eden Gardens pitch controversy has ignited a debate about the balance between bat and ball in Test cricket and whether India's pursuit of World Test Championship points is compromising the quality of the game. While Gambhir defends the decision to go for a turning track, the team's humiliating defeat has raised serious questions about the strategy and its execution.
