IND vs SA 2025: 'Gautam Gambhir is having a go at his players' - Former South Africa captain analyses head coach's Eden pitch remarks

Published - 20 Nov 2025, 11:11 IST | Updated - 20 Nov 2025, 11:53 IST

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers feels that India's head coach Gautam Gambhir was trying to take a dig at his players, which is why he stated that the Eden Gardens curator provided exactly the kind of pitch the team asked for in the first Test against the Proteas.

The cricketer-turned-expert believes that Gambhir indirectly asked his players why they couldn't perform even after being handed a track for which they had planned. While experts and fans criticised the nature of the surface, Gambhir defended it, saying that the curator was very helpful.

The Test match finished in three days, as South Africa won by 30 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. They defended a 124-run target on a rank turner on Day 3.

"Before I could blink the Test match was over. Exactly the wicket India wanted, says India coach Gautam Gambhir. Very interesting comments there. Maybe he is having a go at the players, saying 'This what we prepared, why didn't we perform?'" de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

India were whitewashed by New Zealand 0-3 in a three-match Test series last year. Now, after the defeat to the Proteas, de Villiers said that the Indian batters have not suddenly become the worst players of spin, but the opposition teams are preparing themselves better for the conditions on offer.

"An interesting trend is developing in India over the last three to five years. Obviously, it is very difficult to beat India at home, but over the last three to five years, things are changing. Some concerns for India. They have lost four games there and that is unheard of. What is happening here? Have they become the worse players of spin? I don't think so. Oppositions are more prepared and understand the conditions," de Villiers added.

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De Villiers said that India should stop asking for rank turners and instead, seek pitches which provide a fair contest between bat and ball at least for the first four days.

"Maybe India have to change the makeup of the pitches and not ask for turners. Make it more of a fair Test pitch that will last at least four days," he said.