India head coach Gautam Gambhir mounted a robust defense of the Eden Gardens track, leaving legendary Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn completely perplexed. The former Proteas bowler disagreed with Gambhir's assertion that the pitch had "no demons", but Kumble, a former head coach of India, was "confused" when his countryman acknowledged that the Eden Gardens track was precisely what the management desired.
The Kolkata surface came under scrutiny after 11 wickets fell on Day 1 and 15 more by the end of Day 2. Gambhir, however, criticised his batters' incapacity to withstand pressure and score runs on the difficult pitch while vehemently defending Eden Gardens' curator.
"It was not an unplayable wicket, there were no demons," he said. "This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. The curator was very, very helpful and supportive. This is exactly what we wanted, and this is exactly what we got. When you don't play well, this is what happens. Yes, it might not be a wicket which is going to be very flamboyant where you can play those big shots. But if you are willing to put your head down, definitely it is a wicket where you can score."
Also Read | WTC final scenario: How many matches India need to win after latest setback against South Africa
Gambhir's statement that these are precisely the conditions they desired and that curator Sujan Mukherjee was "very supportive" particularly surprised Kumble.
“If you look back at the legacy of Eden Gardens, there have been so many Test matches that have been played. I’ve been coming here since I was an Under-19 kid and I’ve never had a pitch that behaved like this over the three days in a Test match,” Kumble said on JioHotstar after the match. “I did listen to what Gautam said, he did mention about the fact that the team wanted something like this. Then I’m a bit confused because I know this is a young side.”
However, considering that the game ended by Tea on Day 3, Steyn vehemently disagreed with Gambhir's initial response, stating that there were demons in the pitch. “He said there weren’t demons in the pitch? I certainly saw quite a lot,” Steyn, who was part of the same panel, said. “You know, as Anil was saying, 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. When batters don’t have the option to score runs, the application of defense becomes the biggest key. That itself means batting is really difficult."
Also Read | IND vs SA: Lens firmly on Gautam Gambhir as India’s home dominance crumbles
Ravichandran Ashwin, former India spinner who was a member of Gambhir's team until December last year, agreed with the head coach that seamers had just as big of an influence as spinners and refrained from referring to the Eden Gardens pitch as a turner. He did, however, take issue with the pitch's inadequate preparation, which he felt caused the surface to offer inconsistent bounce.
“If someone calls this Eden Gardens pitch a turner, I will not agree with them one bit. It was proper wicket preparation that went awry. The point I agree with is that it was quite dangerous. But my view is, give a turner. But there are only a few surfaces to give a turner. You cannot give a turner in Eden Gardens. If you try to give a turner there, the wicket will turn like this,” Ashwin noted while speaking on his YouTube channel.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
