Follow UsThe Eden Gardens pitch, used for the first Test between hosts India and South Africa, has come under the scanner despite the opposition winning the Test instead of the home team. The reason for the furore is the deadly nature of the wicket, which turned heavily and bounced inconsistently from Day 1 itself.
Former India number three, Cheteshwar Pujara, in a outpour after the Test, said, “Luck plays a major part when you are playing on a rank turner.”
The 37-year-old suggested that India need to prepare wickets where the skills of both the batters and bowlers are on display, rather than pitch favouring the bowlers from Day 1 itself.
“What India needs to do is start playing on a slightly better pitch. I’m not saying that you don’t play on a turning track. But it has to be a pitch where you should be able to, if you are playing well, score 100,” said the man with more than 7000 Test runs to his kitty.
“You need to play on a pitch where you have a chance. You are giving yourself the best chance. If you are skillful, your skill should come out,” he added.
Talking not just about the batter’s skills, Pujara also put in a word for the bowlers.
He said, “As a bowler, if you just keep bowling well, if you just keep bowling in one area, you are still going to get a wicket. Indian bowlers are so skillful that even if they play on a flat pitch, they will still be able to turn the ball, they will still be able to pick wickets. So, back your skills rather than just relying on the pitch.”
India, after losing the first Test by 30 runs, will move to Guwahati to play the second and final Test of the series.