During the first Test against South Africa, India’s struggle against quality spin bowling was exposed, resulting in a 30-run defeat.
At Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India’s first Test match against South Africa ended in a 30-run defeat. India’s struggle against quality spin was evident, leading to the team’s loss on the tricky Eden Gardens pitch. India failed to put up a fight against South Africa’s bowlers and were bowled out for 93 in their chase of 124. The Kolkata Test ended in just two sessions on Day 3, and the India team management’s decision to prepare such a surface was massively criticised. Now, Harbhajan Singh has slammed the pitch’s curator.
Harbhajan Singh slams the curator of Eden Gardens’ pitch.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has slammed the curator, calling it the death of Test cricket. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan stated that pitches of this kind aren’t needed, as they spoil the beauty of the longest format. He also said that even the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and ViratKohli won’t survive in such playing conditions.
What did Harbhajan Singh say on the matter?
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan said, “Test cricket has been completely RIP-ed. Rest in peace. I don’t think anything is left of Test cricket, at least Indian Test cricket. In England, the matches were fantastic. We praised how the pitches behaved there and how the boys won matches. That was real Test cricket; there was thrill, you could feel the effort. But this? These pitches are bad.”
He added, “Wherever you bowl, the ball is turning unpredictably. The batter has no clue what to do. No matter how good your technique is, even if you are Sachin Tendulkar or ViratKohli, you won’t survive on such pitches. One ball will shoot up, another will stay low, another will spin absurdly, and you’ll get out. Skill doesn’t matter here; only the pitch is deciding everything. And this isn’t new. This has been happening for years.”

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