Sunil Gavaskar, an ex-Indian opening batsman, has weighed in on the pitch debate that has erupted following the hosts’ shocking defeat to South Africa in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Gavaskar fully agreed with Gautam Gambhir’s views, arguing that the batters did not bat properly and that 124 might have been chased down on the pitch.
Gambhir received criticism for his statements in the news conference following the 30-run setback in Kolkata. Due to the low-scoring battle and batters from both teams laboring, the pitch came into great emphasis, particularly due to its irregular bounce and substantial spin. Nonetheless, Gambhir stated that they demanded these conditions and believed the batters might have applied themselves better.
Speaking to India Today, the 76-year-old Gavaskar argued that India only had themselves to blame because the batters took hazardous swings when they didn’t need to. He said:
“Totally agree with Gautam Gambhir. 124 was chaseable on this pitch. There was no question about it. A lot of people are talking about what the pitch was doing, but if you had a look at what Simon Harmer was doing in an over, how many of his deliveries were turning? He was mixing it up really well. He bowled straight and got the odd one to turn. So, it was not a vicious turning pitch. It was a pitch on which you needed to bat as if you were playing a five-day Test, not a 50-over match or a Twenty20 where, after three dot balls, you try to play a break-out-of-jail shot. That’s the issue. One hundred and twenty-four should have been chased with at least five wickets in hand with the kind of batting line-up India had.”
Washington Sundar was the only hitter to resist, facing 92 balls for 31 runs before Aiden Markram caught him nicking one to slip. With Shubman Gill also out owing to a neck ailment, the home team was one specialist batter short.
“Bavuma had played an innings of exceptional character” – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar also stated that India merely needed to take a leaf from Temba Bavuma’s gutsy innings of 55, adding:
“The Indian batters had the example of Temba Bavuma. You may forget what happened the previous day, but Bavuma had played an innings of exceptional character just hours earlier. He batted with real temperament, technique, and dedication. That should at least have been at the back of their minds.”
India must draw level in the second and final Test in Guwahati to avoid losing another home series in a little over a year.
