Follow UsNot too long ago, the idea of India losing a single home Test was incomprehensible, but the team have now shockingly lost four of their last six home Tests.
The most recent of those defeats came against South Africa in Kolkata last week, and, once again, the pitch came under the scanner post the loss. Many felt that India shot themselves in the foot by preparing turners that turned batting into a lottery, and the up-and-down nature of the Eden Gardens surface was criticised by many, including the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Kris Srikkanth.
However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was not in favor of criticising the pitch, as the veteran pacer asserted that nobody complained or spoke about the pitch when India were winning.
“This is not the first time a spin-friendly track has been prepared. No one raised this question before because India was winning. Winning and losing is part of the game. It’s not that the team has not lost before or it has lost for the first time. I don’t think it’s a big worry,” Bhuvneshwar said, reported News18.
India’s decision to select four specialist spinners also came under fire, but Bhuvneshwar stated that the tactic was justified considering how the pitch ended up playing.
“The way the wicket was prepared, we all know the requirement was for four spinners,” he said.
“We had good options and it was a turning track. The way the match went, it was a good decision.”
The biggest story heading into the second Test in Guwahati, then, is the availability of skipper Shubman Gill, who injured his neck on day two of the first Test and took no further part in the game. Many have claimed that Gill’s workload is what’s caused the injury, but Bhuvneshwar opined that Gill, being a senior, would certainly have raised the issue if he felt that he was getting burnt by the amount of matches he was playing.
“Gill has become captain recently. If he so desires, he would speak out for himself,” the 35-year-old pacer said.
“He is part of the think-tank, part of the decision-making. If he really needs rest, he will say that he needs rest. Mentally and physically he is in a position to say that.”