Gambhir Shares Warn Gesture with Eden Gardens Curator Sujan Mukherjee After India's Loss

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Team India coach Gautam Gambhir and curator of Eden Gardens pitch Sujan Mukherjee are in the public eye after India’s loss to South Africa in the first Test of the series. 

The Kolkata pitch reportedly started deteriorating from the second day. The news about the pitch not being watered for 4 days eventually surfaced. Amidst this controversy surrounding the pitch, the head coach was seen sharing a warm moment with the curator. 

Gambhir Defends Pitch Despite Backfired Tactic

Gautam Gambhir insisted that the surface was exactly what the team management had asked for and dismissed any talks suggesting that the pitch was responsible for India's 30-run defeat in the First Test. He stated that "This is exactly the pitch we wanted," and the curator was "very supportive." Gambhir stressed there were "no demons in this wicket," and that it was not unplayable.

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He felt the pitch challenged technique and mental toughness in batting. Players with solid defense and temperament, like Temba Bavuma and Washington Sundar, were able to score runs. He maintained that irrespective of the surface, a target of 124 was chaseable. Gambhir further implied that if India had won, the discussion about the pitch would not be as prominent.

Criticism Over Rapidly Deteriorating Eden Surface

The rapidly deteriorating Eden Gardens pitch faced heavy criticism after the first Test concluded in less than three days. The low-scoring contest was marked by variable bounce and sharp turns, beginning surprisingly early. Former players like Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn also challenged Gambhir's assessment.

Sujan Mukherjee responded to the criticism, saying, “I know everyone is questioning this pitch. Honestly, I know how to prepare a pitch for a Test. That's exactly what I did. I did it as instructed.” Moreover, “I don't think about what others say. Not everyone knows everything. So I do my job with dedication, and I want to continue doing that in the future as well.”

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CAB President Sourav Ganguly confirmed that the pitch is what the Indian management wanted. Other experts, like Harbhajan Singh, warned that such surfaces were a threat to Test cricket's longevity. The ICC may rate the surface as poor, leading to potential demerit points.