India folded for 93 runs while chasing 124 on a Kolkata pitch that helped spinners.
Irfan Pathan believes that Indian hitters' ability to play spin has deteriorated significantly following India's 30-run loss to South Africa in the Kolkata Test.
On a pitch that proved difficult for all batters, India failed to chase down 124 runs and was bowled out for 93. Spinners claimed 12 of India's 20 wickets over both innings.
Simon Harmer was South Africa's bowling hero, taking four wickets in both innings as Indian batters had no idea how to counter his off-spin and variations. This is a worrying trend, as this was India’s fourth loss in the last six tests at home, including a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand.
Irfan Pathan first criticized the batting style in the second innings, claiming it was overly defensive. The former all-rounder believes that if at least two of the top seven had taken an aggressive approach, India may have won the game.
Pathan stated that it did not necessarily imply big shots, but he wanted the hitters to keep the game going.
"I was watching the match, and I felt the batting approach needed to shift into aggression. Why do I say this? Look, I’ve played a lot of first-class cricket in Motibagh. I’ve played on turning tracks too. With more than a hundred first-class matches and close to 30 Tests for India in red-ball cricket, my experience says this—if you need around 125 runs in the final innings, then at least two of your top seven batters must think positively and think of rotating strike and applying pressure on the bowlers. Two partnerships, and the match ends. That’s it,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
"You saw what Axar Patel tried later—he hit a couple of sixes and a boundary, and he got out playing that way. But he still reached around 25–26. If even one or two batters had adopted this approach, those 125 runs could’ve been achieved. We lost by 30 runs. A few positive shots—and not necessarily big aerial shots—but keeping the game moving, using the wrists, and finding the gaps, that’s what was needed," Pathan added.
Furthermore, Pathan stated that he had no doubt that Indian batters’ ability to counter quality spin has dwindled significantly and has vanished completely on tracks that added spinners.
Additionally, the former all-rounder asserted that on wickets like the one in the Kolkata Test, a restrained attitude will only get you into trouble.
"And this brings us to today’s main point—our skill as Indian batters against spin, the ability to use soft hands and wrists, has dropped sharply. There is no debate about this. There was a time when we were considered masters of playing spin all over the world. That art has almost vanished on turning tracks. Because now we mostly get white-ball pitches, we face hard lengths from side-arm throwdown, so the skill to play quality spin has come down drastically, especially ours. And when the approach becomes too subdued and you stop thinking about scoring, you get into trouble. You only think of survival, and you come under pressure.
Shubman Gill wasn’t going to bat. South Africa needed nine wickets. But still, our approach should have been better. The runs should have been in our minds. If you become overly defensive in Test cricket, maybe not the first ball, maybe not the second—but the third will have your name on it, and the bowler will take your wicket," said Pathan.
India and South Africa will play the second Test in Guwahati, starting from November 22.