Gautam Gambhir and Dale Steyn Clash Over Eden Gardens Pitch
In a notable back-and-forth, Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir claimed that the Eden Gardens pitch had “no demons,” while former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn strongly disagreed. Steyn argued that a Test match ending in under three days is certainly not typical.
The focus following South Africa’s surprising 30-run victory over India in the first Test at Kolkata has been the spin-friendly pitch that heavily favored the slow bowlers. The match wrapped up by Tea on Day 3, causing quite a stir among cricket fans and experts alike.
In a tense final innings, India fell short while chasing 124 runs, crumbling to 93 all out. This marked a rare away win for South Africa and a tough loss for Shubman Gill’s team as they struggled under pressure.
Steyn expressed his view about the pitch on JioHotstar, saying, “He said there weren’t demons in the pitch? I certainly saw quite a lot.” He highlighted how some deliveries spun significantly while others skidded through unpredictably, making it challenging for batters to find their rhythm.
Notably, Washington Sundar and South African skipper Temba Bavuma showed solid performances, but even they faced moments where they could have easily been dismissed due to the tricky pitch conditions. Steyn emphasized that the unpredictability of the surface made the game tougher overall.
“The two who applied themselves best were Washington and Temba. Even they looked like they could have gotten out at any time; a ball had their number on it,” Steyn remarked.
In defense of the pitch, Gambhir maintained that it was the type of surface the Indian team had wanted for the first Test. He noted that players like Temba and Axar managed to score runs, arguing that a decent technique and mental toughness could lead to success. He pointed out that most wickets were taken by seamers, indicating that runs could be scored on such pitches if players applied themselves.
As the conversation about the Eden Gardens pitch continues, all eyes will be on the second Test in Guwahati, adding extra pressure for India as they look to bounce back in the series.
