Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh criticised the team management after India suffered a 30-run defeat against South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens. Harbhajan feels the pitch is now hurting the team’s batting and said the management needs to change its approach.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan said, “They have completely destroyed Test cricket. RIP to Test cricket, rest in peace Test cricket. The kind of work they have done, the kind of pitches that have been made for so many years now, I have been seeing it. No one talks about it because it is fine, the team is winning, someone is taking wickets, someone is becoming great by taking those wickets, so everyone feels everything is going well. But I feel that this practice has not started today. It has been going on for many years, and I feel it is the wrong way of playing.”
India collapsed for just 93 runs while chasing 124, and only Washington Sundar crossed the 30-run mark.
Harbhajan added, “You are not moving forward in any way, you are just going around in circles like an ox tied to a mill. You are winning, but there is no real benefit. As a cricketer, you are not growing. So I feel it is high time to see and reflect on this, that playing matches on such pitches where your batsmen are not even sure how to score runs, and you are making them look like they do not know how to bat. Then what difference remains between a capable bowler and a capable batsman if the conditions become so favourable that people are getting out because of the pitch and not because of skill?”
The debate became stronger after India head coach Gautam Gambhir said the pitch was exactly what the team wanted. India will now play the second Test from November 22 in Guwahati.
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