"How can you play on this kind of a wicket?" - Kris Srikkanth's blunt take on Gautam Gambhir's pitch statement after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former batter Kris Srikkanth posed a blunt take on India head coach Gautam Gambhir's statement on the pitch after their defeat against South Africa. The hosts lost the first Test by 30 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Notably, the match finished in two and a half days. It was a tricky surface as batters from both sides struggled. However, during the post-match press conference, Gautam Gambhir stated that there were no demons on the pitch and that the batters should have applied themselves better.

Kris Srikkanth disagreed with Gambhir's statement regarding the pitch. The former opener questioned how batters could have played on such a surface. He questioned the choice of wanting such a wicket and then called Gambhir out for blaming the batters' techniques.

"The point I dont understand is, Gambhir told there are no demons and you should show better technique and all that. How can you play on this kind of a wicket? So many batters tried to defend and got out at slip or lbw. Let's face it, this South Africa is not a strong batting line-up or a strong side. Why do you want to keep on persisting on these kind of bad wickets and then blame the technique of the players? That is not right. No matter who you are, how can you survive on this wicket? Bavuma did but that was just one player out of all," he said on his YouTube channel.

Kris Srikkanth called for an even contest between bat and ball. He recalled how India could do well in England and draw the series because the wickets enabled an even contest. The former batter reflected how the pitch was uneven in Kolkata, while some deliveries were also shooting down, making it difficult for the batters.

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Kris Srikkanth further slams the pitch for IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Kris Srikkanth further slammed the pitch used for the first Test between the two teams. In six home Tests under Gambhir, this was India's fourth defeat. He highlighted how the hosts have been preparing such wickets for a while but have not learnt from their mistakes. They had suffered a 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand last year.

"This is a horrible record at home. We are playing with full fledged sides. Gambhir said this is the wicket we asked for but this is not the wicket you should be playing Test cricket on. The ball is turning from the first day. We are doing this for many years and not learning from the mistakes. Everything is wrong with this wicket. Even if I bowled stump to stump on this track I would get a wicket," he said.

Kris Srikkanth called Gambhir out by stating how both teams struggled to score runs. He questioned how there could be no demons if both teams found it difficult to bat.

"This is a crappy track. You cannot say that you need to apply yourselves on such a crappy track. If not one team is scoring more runs how can it be a good wicket? He is talking absurd things. Everybody is struggling. Both the teams were struggling. Whether he is under pressure or not, I don't know but India is under pressure now."

South Africa were bowled out for 159 in the first innings. In reply, India got to just 189. The visitors managed to score 153 in the second innings, while the hosts were skittled out for 93 chasing 124.