NEW DELHI: India’s stunning 30-run defeat to South Africa whereas chasing simply 124 has sparked a serious debate — are captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir aligned on what best house pitches ought to appear like? The batting collapse, India’s lowest unsuccessful chase at house, has uncovered deeper points than what a dry Eden Gardens floor can disguise.Solely final month, forward of the West Indies Take a look at collection in Ahmedabad, Gill had firmly said that the staff had moved away from getting ready “rank turners”.“…we’d be seeking to play on wickets that supply each to the batsmen and to the bowlers,” Gill had stated, stressing a brand new method of steadiness in house situations.Nevertheless, India started their collection in opposition to the reigning World Take a look at champions on a pitch that contradicted their captain’s said philosophy.The Eden Gardens wicket was reportedly left unwatered for over every week and stored below covers every night. The result was a dry, crumbly pitch that deteriorated from the primary session itself. The match completed inside eight periods, with 38 wickets falling — spinners claiming 22 and pacers 16.

Whereas Gill stated the staff has moved on from rank turners, the proof in Kolkata stated in any other case. Gambhir, nevertheless, remained agency and made it clear this was the floor that they had deliberate for.“In case you do not play properly that is what occurs. There have been no demons within the wicket,” he asserted.Gamers might argue otherwise. Aiden Markram was undone by a Jasprit Bumrah supply that kicked from a superb size within the very first hour. KL Rahul fell to a Marco Jansen ball that rose awkwardly within the fourth innings. These dismissals didn’t look “demon-free”.Gambhir maintained that it was the seamers who did many of the injury.“Finally, if we had received this Take a look at match, you would not even be speaking about this pitch,” he stated in his normal combative model.The messaging hole, nevertheless, is obvious. Gill had requested for steadiness. The coach wished precisely what transpired. The captain did not even get to play owing to neck spasms that wanted hospitalisation, placing him unsure for the second Take a look at in Guwahati from November 22.CAPTAIN RULED OUT, BATTERS EXPOSEDGill took no half past day 1 owing to the neck spasm sustained whereas enjoying a slog-sweep boundary off Simon Harmer. In his absence, Indian batting displayed neither self-discipline nor adaptability.India have now misplaced 4 of their final six Checks at house — a development that has shred the aura of invincibility that the staff loved in its yard.Beneath Gambhir, India have eight wins from 18 Checks — 4 of them have come in opposition to lowly Bangladesh and West Indies.The script right here resembled India’s 0-3 humiliation in opposition to New Zealand at house final 12 months, a collection during which Ajaz Patel (11 in Mumbai), Mitchell Santner (13 in Pune) uncovered the aspect’s frailties on turning tracks.That collection derailed India’s World Take a look at Championship run, and the Eden defeat now sits in the identical bracket.This loss additionally flipped India’s WTC standings. South Africa climbed to 3rd with two wins in three; India dropped to fourth with simply two wins in eight Checks within the new cycle.PITCH FIXATIONFrom the second India landed in Kolkata on Tuesday, the main target was obsessively on the pitch. Conferences with curator Sujan Mukherjee turned frequent. Traditionally wealthy in memorable Checks — together with the long-lasting 2001 Laxman-Dravid miracle — Eden hosted a floor that drew even Harbhajan Singh‘s ire.“They’ve utterly destroyed Take a look at cricket. RIP Take a look at cricket,” Harbhajan stated.Cheteshwar Pujara dismissed discuss of transition as excuse-making.“Dropping at house can’t be accepted, transition or not,” he stated.India had the Take a look at of their pocket at stumps on day two. South Africa have been 93/7, successfully 63 forward, with Temba Bavuma on 29 (78 balls) and debutant Corbin Bosch on 1.Circumstances on a Kolkata morning sometimes favour seam with cool breeze from the Ganges. Widespread sense demanded that Bumrah begin on the Membership Home Finish, the place he took a first-innings five-for.As a substitute, he was launched as late because the ninth over from the opposite finish and by then Bosch regarded settled, Bavuma had grown roots, and the lead stretched previous the psychological 100-run mark.Bavuma’s unbeaten 55 ultimately was the distinction.INDIAN BATTING IMPLOSIONThis defeat shouldn’t be an remoted collapse.It mirrors tactical confusion, and over-curated pitches, with out batting depth to maintain it.After Guwahati — the place they now can not win the collection no matter end result — India is not going to play at house until the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January 2027.Earlier than that, they tour Sri Lanka (August) and New Zealand (October subsequent 12 months) and their job is lower out within the WTC marketing campaign now.(With inputs from PTI)