“They have done it twice now under Gambhir” - Former KKR cricketer’s blunt criticism of India after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) cricketer Brad Haddin bluntly criticised Team India and head coach Gautam Gambhir after their shocking defeat against South Africa. The Proteas won by 30 runs in the first Test of the two-match series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

It was a difficult pitch to play on as batters from both sides struggled. South Africa were bowled out for 159 in the first innings. In reply, India managed to get to 189. They then restricted the visitors to 153 and were set a 124-run target. However, the hosts were skittled out for just 93 as the game ended in two and a half days.

Notably, India lost their home Test series 0-3 to New Zealand last year, playing on similar turning wickets. Haddin reckoned that they took their batters out of the game by preparing such surfaces. He added that the Indian batters were not good players of spin on these wickets.

"They've done it twice now under Gambhir. They play their best cricket when, its not about turning wickets but building scoreboard pressure with their runs. They have taken their world-class batters out of the game. I just think they are leaving too much to chance. India play their best cricket when they put a big total on the board and then they make the opposition claustrophobic with their fields. Their spinners are better than anyone on that surface but their batters are actually not that good players of spin on a surface like that," he said on the 'Willow Talk Cricket Podcast'.

Haddin also reflected that such wickets allowed ordinary spinners from the opposition to dominate as well. During the post-match press conference, Gautam Gambhir revealed that this was exactly the kind of surface they had asked for. However, Haddin reckoned that it cost them against New Zealand and once again against South Africa.

"When Virat Kohli took over as captain back then, they batted long and put scoreboard pressure. They are leaving too much to chance. It brings ordinary spinners into the game. You just have people who can throw the ball and the wicket will do the rest. I heard that Gambhir came out and said we are happy with the surface we are playing on. This cost them against New Zealand as well," he added.

India have now lost four out of their last six Test matches at home under Gambhir. Their dominant record at home is no longer intact, with the team struggling to win matches.

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India need to play on better wickets, reckons Australian captain

Australian Women's team captain Alyssa Healy also seconded the fact that India needed to give themselves better pitches at home. She reckoned that preparing such tracks gave the opposition the chance to dominate the game. Healy urged Shubman Gill and Co. to rethink their plans and play on better wickets.

"I think their spinners are actually more effective on wickets that don't do much. And their batters will enjoy as well. If that is what they genuinely asked for, then I don't understand it because it actually brings the opposition back into the attack. They will have to rethink if they are losing Tests at home, which is a really bizarre thing for India to do. I think it has to be 'let's play on better wickets'," she said. (via the aforementioned source)

Being 0-1 down, the hosts will now be under pressure to level the series. The second Test will begin on November 22 and will take place in Guwahati.

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Edited by Rishab Vm