Top 5 experts who slammed Gautam Gambhir's comments on Eden Gardens pitch after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test ft. Kris Srikkanth

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir made some strong statements on the Eden Gardens pitch after their defeat against South Africa in the first Test. They suffered a 30-run loss and are 0-1 behind in the two-match series.

Batters from both sides found it difficult to score on the surface. In the first innings, South Africa were bowled out for 159 runs on the board. However, they managed to restrict India to 189 with the ball. In the second innings, the Proteas once again struggled and were skittled out for 153.

Set a target of 124, it felt as though India would get over the line. The hosts had a nightmare as they were unable to get to the target. Shockingly, they were bowled out for just 93 runs in the end. The game ended in just two and a half days.

South African spinner Simon Harmer bagged eight wickets in the game. Following the defeat, Gautam Gambhir said during the press conference that this was exactly the kind of wicket India had asked for. Moreover, he also stated that there were no demons in the pitch and that the batters should have shown better application and technique.

Post the defeat, several former cricketers slammed Gautam Gambhir's comments regarding the Eden Gardens pitch.

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Top 5 experts who slammed Gautam Gambhir's comments on Eden Gardens pitch after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

#5 Dale Steyn

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn reckoned that he certainly saw demons in the pitch. He highlighted how it was a tough pitch to bat on with the ball turning square, skidding through, and hitting the pads. While Gautam Gambhir stated that Temba Bavuma applied himself and scored a fifty in the second innings, Steyn pointed out that even Bavuma looked like he could have gotten out.

"He [Gambhir] said there weren’t demons in the pitch? I certainly saw quite a lot. Some balls are spinning two feet past the bat, hitting the keeper on the shoulder. The next one is skidding through, hitting the pad, and you’re out. That’s pretty tough to bat on. When batters don’t have the option to score runs, the application of defense becomes the biggest key. That itself means batting is really difficult," he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

"The two who applied themselves best were Washington Sundar in the fourth innings and Temba Bavuma. Even they looked like they could have gotten out at any time, a ball had their number on it. But their defense was the most solid. This wicket certainly has demons in it, that’s for sure. Any Test match that finishes within three days has got some demons in it, for sure," he added.

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#4 Shaun Pollock

South African legend Shaun Pollock bluntly disagreed with Gautam Gambhir's comment that there were no demons in the pitch. Pollock reckoned that there were some unplayable deliveries and that it was difficult for batters. While he expressed that Gautam Gambhir wanted batters to do well irrespective of the conditions, even on tricky surfaces, he reckoned that these were not the kind of pitches anyone would fancy playing on.

"The only issue I've got is actually about no demons. I don't agree with that one. It was very difficult at times. There were certain deliveries that were unplayable. There were a few demons. I think if he looked back he would take away that there weren't that many demons. His point is probably going more down the lines that the batters need to show more application and ability to bat on different surfaces. I would say there were demons and it was very difficult and it is not kind of what you want. But I do get his point. Even though it was difficult, they should have shown more application," he said on Cricbuzz.

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#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

While Gautam Gambhir stated that there were no demons, former batter Cheteswar Pujara countered that India needs to play on better wickets if they want to win at home. He reflected that the likes of KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and others have brilliant first-class records and if the team is losing despite that, then there was a problem. Pujara claimed that the hosts would have had a better chance to win had they played on a better wicket.

"India had a better chance to win this Test if the match had been played on a good wicket. How do you define Test cricket? On which wickets will your percentage to win be higher? That percentage drops on such wickets, and the opposition becomes equal to you. So, play on good wickets because even India A can win against South Africa; that is the amount of talent India has," he said on Star Sports.

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#2 Aakash Chopra

Former India batter Aakash Chopra questioned the need for India to make rank turners. As Gautam Gambhir stated that the team asked for this pitch, Chopra commented that the team got the pitch and also got hammered by South Africa. He slammed the mindset that the team cannot win at home if they play on good pitches. He reckoned that the team had to be backed and there must be more faith shown in the players.

"We wanted this pitch, we got this pitch, and we got the hammering. Why do we make rank turners? What is the need to make such pitches? Gautam told we needed this pitch. Why? Can we not beat teams on good pitches? South Africa may be champions but their batters have not scored a lot. We will have to back ourselves. We have enough bowlers. But no, it was not enough according to the mindset. If you think you want such a pitch and can beat teams only with such a pitch, you play four spinners, you drop your number three batter. I dont think this is an aggressive mindset by playing on such a pitch. I disagree. Please play on good pitches," he said on his YouTube channel.

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#1 Kris Srikkanth

Former India opener Kris Srikkanth criticised Gautam Gambhir for calling it a pitch with no demons. He stated that Test cricket must not be played on such wickets. As Gautam Gambhir reckoned that the batters must show better application, Srikkanth slammed the head coach for persisting on such poor pitches and then blaming the players for their technique.

"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.

Srikkanth further went on to claim that Gautam Gambhir made absurd statements regarding the pitch. Whether the head coach was under pressure or not, he reckoned that the Indian team was certainly under pressure, calling it a shameful defeat.