Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has launched a scathing attack on the pitch prepared for the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, calling it unfit for quality cricket and warning that even legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli would struggle on such surfaces.
India suffered a 30-run defeat in the opening Test after being bowled out for a mere 93 runs while chasing a modest target of 124. The match ended within two sessions on Day 3, sparking widespread criticism of the pitch and team strategies.
Speaking on his YouTube show, Harbhajan questioned the direction of Test cricket in India, expressing deep concern over the nature of turning tracks produced in recent years.
“Test cricket has been completely RIP-ed. Rest in peace. At least Indian Test cricket,” Harbhajan said. “Such pitches are killing the essence of the format. In England, you could feel the thrill, the effort, the competition. Here, the ball is turning unpredictably from everywhere.”
He argued that no level of batting skill could withstand such inconsistent behaviour from the surface.
“Even if you are Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli, you won’t survive here. One ball shoots up, another stays low, another turns absurdly. Skill does not matter the pitch is deciding everything,” he added.
India’s batting collapse, coupled with the exaggerated turn on offer throughout the match, has reignited debates about pitch standards in India. Critics argue that extremely spin-friendly surfaces shorten Tests and compromise the balance between bat and ball.
All-rounder Washington Sundar was India’s top scorer in the second innings with 31 runs, but his resistance wasn’t enough against South Africa’s disciplined attack.
With the loss putting India under pressure early in the series, scrutiny now shifts to the preparation of pitches for the remaining matches and the team management’s decisions moving forward.
