IND vs SA 2025: ‘Even I would have taken wickets on it’ – Former India opener slams ‘horrible’ Kolkata pitch

Eden Gardens. (Photo source: BCCI)

Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth criticised the Eden Gardens pitch on which the first Test between India and South Africa was played. Srikkanth classified the pitch as a “horrible” one, as only 594 runs were scored across four innings in the series-opening fixture. He also refuted head coach Gautam Gambhir’s claims that the pitch offered no nasty surprises.

“The wicket was a bad wicket. Gambhir said after the match that there were no demons in the wicket but come on, it was a horrible wicket. It was not a Test match wicket. If the game ends in 2.5 days, there’s clearly something wrong with the wicket,” stated Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.

He pointed out the low scores across all four innings, and also shed light on the inconsistent bounce as a good length delivery from Jasprit Bumrahday of the Test. Srikkanth, who was a part-time off-spinner during his playing days, conceded that even he would have been amongst the wickets had he bowled in the first Test.

“Look at the scores; 159, 189, 153 and 93. Obviously, there’s something wrong with the pitch. First day, Bumrah bowled an absolute snorter to (Aiden) Markram that nearly went above his head. It was up and down for the quicks, it was turning square for the spinners. On this surface, even I would have taken wickets if I had bowled. Bowling stump-to-stump would have done the trick,” he added.

The 65-year-old questioned the rationale behind the underutilisation of Washington Sundar with the ball. He failed to understand why India went ahead with four spinners and did not give one of them a proper chance to bowl.

“They played 4 spinners and one spinner (Sundar) didn’t even bowl (much). In the second innings, he didn’t bowl a single ball. I don’t understand the logic behind selecting 4 spinners. My problem is not with selecting Washington and playing him at No. 3, but not giving him any bowling whatsoever,” concluded Srikkanth.

India ended up losing the first Test by 30 runs after failing to chase 124 for victory. Simon Harmer was awarded the Player of the Match award for his eight-wicket match haul (4/30 and 4/21). The second match is scheduled to be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22.

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