"Prepare a pitch like that and you deserve to lose" - Michael Vaughan's scathing attack on Team India after loss to Proteas in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former England captain Michael Vaughan slammed Team India for the Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata for the first Test against South Africa. He believes the hosts deserved to lose the match for dishing out such a surface.'

India suffered a shocking 30-run defeat to the Proteas, with the Test match ending in under three days. Batters from both sides found the going equally challenging against pacers and spinners alike across the three days.

The visitors scored only 159 and 153 in their two innings, while India posted 189 in their first essay before falling for an embarrassing 93 in the final innings.

After the game, Vaughan posted on his X handle:

"Prepare a pitch like that and you deserve to lose against the World Test champs …. brilliant win by SA."

It was India's fourth home Test loss in their last six matches, dating back to the 0-3 whitewash suffered against New Zealand last year. Chasing only 124 for victory, the home side crumbled under pressure to fall for under 100 in a mere 35 overs.

Except Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma, no other batter from either side crossed the 50-run mark in either innings.

"It was not an unplayable wicket" - Gautam Gambhir

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed the criticisms of the Kolkata wicket, calling it one with no demons. Instead, the former left-hander called for better application from the batters.

None of the Indian batters crossed even 40 across the two innings, with KL Rahul's 39 in the first innings being the highest.

Addressing the pitch concerns in the press conference post-game, Gambhir said (via India Today):

"It was not an unplayable wicket. This pitch is exactly what we asked for and this is what we got. The curator, Sujan Mukherjee, was very supportive. I think it's a wicket that can judge your mental toughness, because those who played with good defense scored runs."

The shocking defeat left India 0-1 behind in the best-of-two series against South Africa. They will look to avoid a series defeat with a win in the second Test in Guwahati, starting November 22. It was also India's first home Test defeat to South Africa since the 2010 series.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran