NEW DELHI: “There have been no demons within the pitch,” mentioned India head coach Gautam Gambhir after he was repeatedly requested in regards to the enjoying floor following India’s 30-run loss within the first Check of the two-match sequence in opposition to the reigning World Check Champions (WTC) winners on the Eden Gardens.Gambhir admitted the pitch was “precisely” what they’d requested for and was in no temper accountable the 22 yards for the result of the Check. India misplaced the sport inside two and a half days on a pitch that had variable bounce, sharp flip, supplied one thing to the quicks and made batting very troublesome from the primary hour of Day 1.

It may very well be gauged from the truth that just one half-century was scored within the recreation, and that too got here within the third innings when South Africa captain Temba Bavuma placed on a batting masterclass. By no means earlier than on Indian soil has a Check needed to wait until the third innings to see a person half-century. However the Indian camp was happy with what curator Sujan Mukherjee had rolled out on the Eden Gardens, even when the tactic backfired, costing them an important match and WTC factors.“This wasn’t an unplayable wicket,” mentioned Gambhir earlier than including that the facet hadn’t “requested for rank turners”. The coach felt batters with good defence discovered their method out and backed the younger gamers within the dressing room to maintain preventing. Taking the names of Bavuma, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, Gambhir emphasised that it was a difficult pitch however those that put within the onerous grind acquired the outcomes.“Bavuma, Axar and Washington scored runs. Nearly all of the wickets went to the seamers. We all the time speak in regards to the pitch and spinning observe, however seamers additionally picked wickets. It was a pitch the place your method and psychological toughness are challenged. In the event you look to grind on pitches like this, you possibly can succeed. In case your defence is stable, you possibly can rating on pitches like this,” mentioned Gambhir.The pinnacle coach and all the suppose tank would have had their causes to play on a floor as difficult because the Eden, however there have been few takers for the “no demons within the pitch” remark. Shortly after the presser ended, former South Africa fast Dale Steyn and ex-India captain Anil Kumble spoke at size in regards to the enjoying floor and weren’t in settlement with Gambhir’s feedback.“A match led to two and a half days, with unhealthy gentle additionally lowering overs, and there have been no demons within the pitch?” was Steyn’s fast response.Kumble recalled his personal enjoying days and added that he hasn’t seen an Eden Gardens floor like this since his U-19 days. The 2 legends of the sport acquired help from former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, who highlighted the rising and regarding pattern of allotting surfaces like this.Pujara defined the way it has develop into the brand new regular because the COVID-19 break and asserted that surfaces like these make luck, not talent, crucial issue. The luck issue was clearly evident throughout the 4 innings as batters survived unplayable deliveries however ended up shedding their wickets to some peculiar bowling on events.It wasn’t the bowling that was a let-down on a pitch the place luck takes over, however the insipid batting because the hosts fell in need of the goal by 30 runs.The large query, nonetheless, nonetheless stays: is there a have to play on pitches like these? What goal is it serving? A Check ending inside three days isn’t any good commercial for the format and robs a younger and inexperienced facet of a good shot at discovering their ft.New Zealand got here, thrived and beat India 3-0 — honest and sq. — final yr. South Africa have been being outplayed for many of the Check however put up a courageous struggle with the bat within the morning session of Day 3. The struggle gave them simply sufficient runs to play with, and from there it was over to the bowlers, pitch and luck.Whereas India battled onerous, they fell in need of the goal with a batter fewer. They may now need to regroup for the Guwahati Check subsequent week, beginning November 22, and the massive query will stay: is there a necessity for pitches like these?