Cricket news: World savages India over 'arrogant' act as coach makes staggering confession after loss

Calls are growing for India to change their tack and produce more sporting pitches after coach Gautam Gambhir revealed they requested a dry track for the first cricket Test against South Africa. The move completely backfired as South Africa won by 30 runs - the Proteas' first Test win in India in 15 years.

The home side were bowled out for just 93 in the second innings, and the match ended in the second session on day three. The pitch provided plenty of assistance for the spinners from the opening session, as opposed to what we normally see with better batting conditions on the opening two days before spin comes into play.

South Africa won the match despite only making 159 and 153, with India only managing 189 and 93. Speaking after the match, former India captain Sourav Ganguly said the hosts had requested the pitch "not be watered for four days" leading in.

Ganguly, who is the Cricket Association of Bengal President, told local media: "The pitch is what the Indian camp wanted. This is what happens when you don’t water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can't be blamed."

Gambhir confirmed that claim in his official press conference, saying: "This pitch is exactly what we asked for and this is what we got. The curator, Sujan Mukherjee, was very supportive."

India savaged after 'arrogant' move backfires

India's request for a dry pitch with plenty of spin comes despite their staggering 3-0 loss to New Zealand at home last year. It was the first time India had been swept in a home Test series, and that too featured pitches that did plenty for the slower bowlers.

It backfired 12 months ago when India showed they're just as susceptible to turning tracks as their opponents, yet they still rolled out another rank turner against South Africa. As one pundit wrote on social media: "Either incompetence or arrogance on part of whoever approved this abomination. Such pitches are a disgrace to the home season and shouldn’t be defended."

Another wrote: "Here we have a coach who is just not ready to understand despite 4 losses that such pitches don't suit India!!" While a third wrote: "This is what happens when you prepare sub-standard pitches. Enough is enough.

"Let’s not press self-destruct button time and again in our desperate urge to get WTC points. We are good enough to win without these ‘doctored’ pitches. Don’t forget other teams also have quality spinners. And our own batting against spin is now suspect. Wake up!"

India coach insists 'no demons' in pitch

But India coach Gambhir has instead turned the blowtorch on his batters, saying they lacked the necessary technique and temperament. "There were no demons in this wicket," he insisted. "It was not an unplayable wicket. It was a wicket where your technique can be judged, your mental toughness can be challenged, and more important than that is your temperament.

"The point is that you should be able to know how to play turn. And this is what we asked for and this is what we got. I still believe that irrespective of how the wicket was, 124 was chase-able. There are lot of youngsters in that dressing room but in Test cricket, more than skill, you need mental toughness."

RELATED:

Aussies tipped for major Ashes backflip after three players ruled out

Heartbreak for Marnus Labuschagne amid dramatic pre-Ashes scenes

But Proteas captain Temba Bavuma had no doubt about the difficulty of the pitch. "Some balls were bouncing nicely, others were squatting," he said. "So that was a bit tricky, which made your cross-batted shots a bit harder. But look, I'll always back my defence."

Bavuma made the only half-century of the match with 55 not out in the second dig. Off-spinner Simon Harmer did the damage with 4-21 in the final innings.

Click here to read article