Gautam Gambhir Defends Pitch After India Collapse Against SA

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly defended the pitch at Eden Gardens after India suffered a dramatic collapse in the first Test against South Africa. India were chasing only 124 runs for victory but were bowled out for just 93, giving South Africa a 30-run win in a match that ended inside three days. Despite the low score and difficult playing conditions, Gambhir insisted that the pitch was not to blame.

Gambhir explained that the wicket did not have “demons,” meaning it was not impossible to play on. According to him, the surface was challenging but fair, and it tested the players’ skills and mental strength. He said that a pitch that demands good technique should not be criticised simply because batting is difficult. He also pointed out that most of the wickets in the match were taken by fast bowlers, which means it was not a traditional turning track that heavily favoured spinners.

He added that players who defended well and stayed patient were able to score runs. Gautam Gambhir believed that the Indian players needed to show better technique and mental toughness. He said this was the type of pitch India wanted because it challenged both teams equally. However, he admitted that if the team did not play well, the result would naturally be disappointing.

South Africa started the third day at 97 for 3 and still trailed India by 30 runs, but captain Temba Bavuma played one of the most important innings of his career. Bavuma scored an unbeaten 55, which was the only half-century of the match. His calm and solid batting helped South Africa gain a useful lead. His innings became the turning point of the match, giving hope to his bowlers that they had enough to defend.

Simon Harmer, South Africa’s experienced off-spinner, took four wickets in the second innings and finished the match with eight wickets overall. His skill, control, and ability to use the pitch conditions made him the player of the match. Harmer bowled with great confidence and kept pressure on the Indian batters throughout the game.

India were also placed at a disadvantage because they were one batsman short. Their captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury after scoring four runs in the first innings. Because of the injury, he retired hurt and did not return to bat in the second innings. This meant India had only ten available batters, which made the chase even more difficult on a tricky pitch.

The match was filled with unpredictable bounce and sharp spin. Many balls bounced more than expected, while others stayed low. This made cross-batted shots dangerous, and many players struggled to play their natural attacking strokes. Bavuma mentioned after the match that trusting the bounce was extremely difficult. Some balls behaved normally while others kept very low, making batting uncertain and risky.

Even with these challenges, Bavuma said that he relied on his strong defence. His method was simple — he focused on defending solidly and playing only the balls he felt comfortable with. His calm and disciplined approach helped him survive longer than most players and allowed him to guide his team to a competitive total. He also built an important 44-run partnership with Corbin Bosch for the eighth wicket, which frustrated India and shifted the momentum towards South Africa.

Players on both sides struggled to play flashy shots or score quickly. The difficult nature of the pitch demanded patience and strong defensive techniques. Bavuma’s innings stood out because he adapted to the condition better than anyone else.

In the end, South Africa completed a memorable victory. India were left disappointed, but Gambhir remained firm in his belief that the pitch was fair and that the team must take responsibility for their poor batting. He said that challenges like these are a part of Test cricket and that teams must learn to adapt and improve.