India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed concerns about the Eden Gardens pitch, saying it posed no demons. He clarified that the pitch met the team’s specific requirements set by the curator, despite India falling to a 30-run loss against South Africa in the opening Test.

Shubman Gill’s team was dismissed for a mere 93 in their fourth innings. The pitch received criticism for its uneven bounce and sharp turn. Sourav Ganguly, the president of the CAB, revealed that the Indian team management had asked not to water the pitch for four days.

“It was not an unplayable wicket. This pitch is exactly what we asked for and this is what we got. The curator, Sujan Mukherjee, was very supportive. I think it’s a wicket that can judge your mental toughness, because those who had good defence scored runs,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.

Gambhir pointed to the Temba Bavuma (55*) and Washington Sundar‘s (31 off 92 balls) knocks.

“There were no demons. Axar, Temba, and Washington all scored runs. If you call it a turning wicket, keep in mind that most of the wickets fell to seamers,” he remarked.

Gambhir emphasised that India had specifically requested a pitch that would assist spin from the outset, ensuring the outcome wouldn’t be influenced by the toss. “We asked for the pitch that would support spinners from the start. If we would have won the Test, there wouldn’t be so much talk or debate about the pitch..”

“I don’t believe this pitch was particularly challenging. It was more about technique, mental strength, and temperament. If you approach it with patience and focus on batting for long duration, runs are possible. But if your intent is on attacking, it becomes tougher. The players who defended well, like KL Rahul, Bavuma, and Washington Sundar, managed to score runs. So, if you have a solid defence, this isn’t a pitch where runs are impossible. We’ve faced similar conditions before.”