South Africa were reduced to 93/7 at stumps on Day 2, with a lead of 63 runs.
India’s spin all-rounder Axar Patel highlighted the difficulties in batting on the turning Eden Gardens track, citing that the hosts would be confident chasing anything under 125 during the ongoing first Test against South Africa.
At stumps on Day 2, South Africa were reduced to 93/7 in their second innings, with a lead of 63 runs. 16 wickets fell on the second day’s play as India were bowled out for 189 in 62.2 overs and gained a slender 30-run lead.
“Obviously, from one end, it feels like it's going straight, but from the other end, too much of a turn and bounce is happening. I feel that you have to play attacking cricket as a batter, and only then can you make runs. With the way wicket is right now, if we can keep them under 125, it should be easy and chaseable,” Axar told broadcasters after the close of play.
He added, “When you get loose balls, you have to convert them into runs and keep an attacking mindset. It's not like you can defend and then feel that you are set on this wicket because you are never really set on this wicket. So, whenever you get a ball outside off-stump or leg stump, you can look to do the sweep or reverse-sweep.”
Axar, who had figures of 1-30 in the second innings after claiming 1-21 in the first essay, cautioned his fellow bowlers against striving to bowl magical deliveries.
“When you know there's some help in it for the bowlers, you can get carried away by the thought of bowling some magic balls – like trying to turn in from outside or look to get wickets,” Axar stated.
“At that time, you have to show patience, which is very important. Yes, when a bowler makes a mistake on such a pitch, it's a chance for a batter to make runs. But when the wicket helps a bowler, it is indeed advantageous,” he remarked.
(With IANS Inputs)