Kuldeep Yadav gave an honest assessment of the Guwahati pitch after South Africa gained the upper hand in the second Test, calling it a road. Following another long day for India’s bowlers, what seemed like a promising position for the hosts quickly turned tricky, and Kuldeep’s remarks highlighted how little the surface offered to the bowlers.

During the press conference after Day 2, the left-arm spinner drew a comparison between the Guwahati pitch and the one used in the Kolkata Test, emphasizing how contrasting the two conditions were. He noted that the Guwahati surface gave batters significantly more freedom, making it very difficult for bowlers to maintain consistent pressure.

“Kolkata offered a completely different challenge, but here the pitch was flat like a road. That’s the nature of Test cricket. As a bowler, you aim to be in control every day, but on batting-friendly wickets, you have to find ways to fight back. We bowled well yesterday, but a long partnership in one session set us back,” Kuldeep explained.

“Everyone gave their best effort. The conditions didn’t offer much assistance to the bowlers, not even the pacers. That’s the essence of Test cricket you have to embrace it, learn, and grow from such experiences. There’s no point in overthinking about the pitch. I’m confident the next Test will provide a more bowler-friendly surface. No complaints,” he said.

Kuldeep’s observations come amid continued discussion about the pitch conditions in the series. After India’s loss in Kolkata, the Eden Gardens wicket faced criticism for being unusually tough for batters. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, however, defended the surface, saying it was fair and that challenging wickets are part of Test cricket. His remarks sparked differing opinions, with some former players suggesting the pitch may have favored the bowlers too heavily.