‘Deserve to lose’: How pitch plot backfired in ‘trail of self-destruction’ as big issue exposed — India View

Indian coach Gautam Gambhir has confessed the hosts got the exact pitch they requested following this week’s 30-run loss to South Africa at Eden Gardens, with pundits questioning whether the Asian powerhouse still benefits from playing on spin-friendly decks.

The low-scoring contest concluded in less than three days due to the venue’s unpredictable deck, which showed signs of uneven bounce and heavy turn. Unlike traditional pitches, which deteriorate over time, the Kolkata wicket showed worrying signs of volatility from the first over of the match.

Chasing a 124-run target for victory, India was rolled for 93 in 35 overs on Sunday, with the Proteas taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Neither team passed 200, while only one player managed more than 40 — an unbeaten 55 from South African captain Temba Bavuma. It was South Africa’s first Test victory in India since 2010.

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India has intentionally prepared turning decks for nearly a decade, but the ploy has backfired over the past 14 months, with the South Asian team suffering an embarrassing 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand last year.

Having lost four Tests at home since the start of last summer, pundits have started questioning whether India should start preparing decks that provide a fair contest between bat and ball.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Gambhir admitted India’s team management had asked curator Sujan Mukherjee to produce a spin-friendly wicket for the series opener, blaming his batters for their failure to absorb pressure.

“This is what we asked for, and this is what we got,” Gambhir declared.

“I thought the curator was very supportive. And I still believe that irrespective of how the wicket was, (the target) was chaseable. And I felt that if you are willing to put your head down, and if you have a solid defence, if you have the temperament, you can definitely score runs.

“If you are willing to put your head down, definitely it’s a wicket where you can score.”

He continued: “You should be able to know how to play turn.

“When you don’t play well, this is what happens.

“It was not an unplayable wicket, there were no demons.”

Gambhir elaborated that India instructs curators to produce pitches that turn from day one to negate any toss advantage.

“We have always said we want turning wickets where the ball turns a little on day one so that the toss doesn’t become an important factor,” he said.

“We’ve never said we want to play on bad wickets or rank turners. Ultimately, if we had won, we wouldn’t be speaking about the pitch this much.”

However, former South African fast bowler Dale Stayn questioned gambhir’s claim there were “no demons” in the pitch.

“He said there weren’t demons in the pitch? I certainly saw quite a lot,” Steyn said on JioHotstar.

“Some balls are spinning two feet past the bat, hitting the keeper on the shoulder. The next one is skidding through, hitting the pad, and you’re out. That’s pretty tough to bat on.”

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin echoed gambhir’s belief that batters need to adapt to the conditions, arguing the players were to blame for the low-scoring affair.

“Many a times conversations move towards ‘the pitch’ and not about how some have adapted nicely while others haven’t,” Ashwin tweeted.

“Sure, it’s hard but that’s how Test matches are supposed to be, just like how life is.”

Meanwhile, former England batter Kevin Pietersen cast responsibility on “modern-day techniques” for the Kolkata collapse.

“Batters grow up now to hit sixes and play switch-hits,” he tweeted.

“They don’t grow up to build an innings and learn the art of survival.

“This is fact, as I know what’s being taught and I’m a part of many player discussions.”

ESPNcrincifo’s Karthik Krishnaswamy questioned whether India’s spin-friendly deck worked against the hosts because they provided conditions for opposition bowlers — such as Proteas spinner Simon Harmer — to wreak havoc.

“There was a distinct gap between these attacks, on paper, and India narrowed it with their choice of pitch. They had done the same thing last year, against New Zealand, with devastating consequences. They chose to do it again,” he wrote.

“There’s something to admire in India’s bull-headed belief in their pitch strategy. But is it really doing their cause any good?”

Hindustan Times reporter R Kaushik acknowledged that India had voluntarily neutralised their biggest weapon — speedster Jasprit Bumrah — by producing slow, low turners.

“It’s official now – far from being invincible, India are actually vulnerable while playing at home. And much of it is of their own making,” he wrote.

“Why would you embark on a trail of self destruction and then rue opportunities lost? Why would you throw away home advantage?

“There is no home advantage in playing on turners anymore.

“India are doing themselves no favours by letting the opposition get a look-in, their so-called quest for World Test Championship points repeatedly falling flat on its face.”

Elsewhere, former Indian batter Chesteshwar Pujara claimed the bowler-friendly decks had made luck, not skill, the most important factor in Test matches in India.

The second Test between India and South Africa gets underway at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

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