The first Test match between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata ended in just eight sessions, with South Africa defending a modest 124-run target. On November 16, the Proteas took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after bowling out India for only 93 runs in the fourth innings. The pitch was a rank turner that heavily favoured spin bowlers. This marked India's first home Test loss to South Africa in 15 years. Legendary Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh sharply criticized the Indian team management for preparing such extreme spin-friendly surfaces. He stated that India has destroyed Test cricket by producing pitches where batsmen have no chance to develop their skills properly. Harbhajan argued that while India has been winning on such tracks for years, the recent defeats against New Zealand and South Africa expose the flaws in this approach. He urged the team to prepare balanced pitches that allow fair contests between bat and ball.
Harbhajan Singh's Criticism of Pitch Preparation Strategy
Harbhajan Singh voiced strong concerns about India's pitch preparation on his YouTube channel, saying the team has completely destroyed Test cricket. He noted that producing rank turners has been common practice for many years, but people stayed quiet because India kept winning matches. However, the situation changed dramatically in 2024 when India suffered a whitewash against New Zealand at home and then lost to South Africa. Harbhajan emphasized that Indian players possess exceptional talent across all departments, including batting, spin bowling, and fast bowling with stars like Bumrah and Siraj. He questioned why such extreme pitches are needed when India can defeat any team on balanced surfaces within five days, allowing proper skill development for all players involved.
Source: Link