Test cricket returned to the Eden Gardens in Kolkata after a six-year hiatus, but the result was not the same as 2019. India’s crushing 30-run loss to world Test champions South Africa has drawn criticism all around. Despite a modest target of 124 runs, the Indian team was bowled out for just 93 runs. Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir has reacted to this embarrassing defeat. Gambhir has clearly blamed the batsmen instead of blaming the defeat on the pitch. He said that the target of 124 runs was easily achievable on this pitch, but the players did not show patience.
Gambhir’s clear statement on defeat
South Africa won a Test match on Indian soil for the first time in 15 years, as the Indian batting collapsed against South African spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj. Speaking on the shock defeat, coach Gautam Gambhir defended the pitch. He said, “We got a lot of support from the pitch curator here. We wanted such a spin-friendly pitch.
If you don’t play well, that’s the result: Coach
Expressing his displeasure, the coach said, “When you don’t play well, this is what happens. Gambhir’s statement clearly shows that he believes that the batsmen’s mentality and technical flaws were more responsible for the defeat than the pitch.”
Gambhir’s deteriorating coaching record
With this defeat, Gautam Gambhir’s dismal record in Test cricket as head coach continues. While India has been defeated in 9 Test matches and 2 matches have been drawn.
Foreign tours also failed
During Gambhir’s tenure, the Indian team has suffered test series defeats against big nations like Australia and New Zealand. Now, South Africa have raised serious questions over Gambhir’s coaching record by defeating the Indian team at home.
