By Boria Majumdar at Eden Gardens
New Zealand yet again. That’s how it can best be described. India opted for a wicket that turned from day one and it once again backfired. It was a wicket of India’s choice and things all seemed to be going to plan till Shubman was injured. That cost India a few runs, and the lead was brought down to 30. And in the second innings, India badly missed their captain. Having said that, no excuses. If you can’t score 124 in home conditions, you have to cop the blame.
Take a look at India’s second-innings wickets. Jaiswal flirted at a ball that did nothing outside off stump. Rahul was the only one dismissed by an unplayable delivery. Jurel fell to a long hop and Pant played a poor shot. Jadeja could consider himself unlucky but, yet again, one has to say India lacked application and temperament. Temba showed you can bat on this wicket and score. That innings was one of class and won South Africa the game.
At the start of the day, not many felt South Africa could take the lead beyond 100. They did, with India deciding not to start with Bumrah for some reason. South Africa counter-punched and Bosch and Bavuma stitched together a match-winning partnership.
Even then it was India’s game, and yet again the batters failed to make the most of the opportunity. That’s where I think Gautam and the management need to trust their bowlers a bit more. They can win you games on good wickets and you don’t need rank turners or surfaces as dry as this. In England, for example, India won two Test matches on decent wickets and that should have given them confidence. For whatever reason, this push to play on dry pitches has exposed India time and again. New Zealand, now it will be said, wasn’t an aberration.
While you do feel for Shubman Gill, who had to see his team surrender from a hospital bed, you also know that it is a result they need to own up to.
In the end, one has to say that India’s capability to play quality spin remains poor and unless they come to terms with it and play on good decks, such results will continue to haunt Indian cricket. Finally, many will ask for the curator’s head after this loss. The truth is he made a track exactly as the team had asked for and yet the result did not go in India’s favour. So it’s not Sujan Mukherjee who is responsible for it. It is India’s inability to play spin that cost them the Test match.
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