The Kolkata pitch came under severe scrutiny after the first Test ended inside three days.
The pitch served for the first Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens came under scanner after the match ended inside three days.
India's batting collapsed like nine pins, with no one reaching the 50-run mark across two innings. While the hosts were bowled out for 189 in the first innings, their second innings folded for 93 in the chase of 124 on a crumbling surface.
Amid heavy criticism, Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee said that he had simply followed instructions of the Indian team management.
With India facing a must win situation in the second Test to avoid another series loss on home soil, the surface at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati will be the center of attention for next few days.
According a TOI report, one can expect more prodigious turn and bounce in the second Test as the pitch to be used is going to be of red soil which offers better bounce and carry for the bowlers.
The second Test will mark Barsapara Cricket Stadium’s debut as Test venue. The BCCI is worried about the venue facing backlash for producing a rank turner while hosting maiden Test.
“The pitch here is made of red soil which has the tendency to offer more pace and bounce. The Indian team had made their demands clear before the home season. So, if the pitch offers turn, it will turn at pace and bounce. The curators are trying to ensure there is no substantial variable bounce,” TOI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
Addressing the media after India’s defeat in Kolkata, India head coach Gautam Gambhir himself admitted that the team management had asked for a spin-friendly strip for the series opener against South Africa.
"The majority of wickets went to the seamers. No, the point is that you should be able to know how to play a turn. And this is what we asked for, and this is what we got. I thought the curator was very supportive,” Gambhir told reporters.
“I still believe that irrespective of how the wicket was, 123 (124) was chaseable. And I felt that if you are willing to put your head down and if you have a solid defense, if you have the temperament, you can definitely score runs. Yes, it might not be a wicket that is going to be very flamboyant, where you can play those big shots. But if you are willing to put your head down, it's definitely a wicket where you can score. I think the inconsistent bounce came into it a lot, both for seamers and spinners,” the coach added.
When asked about the nature of the pitch the Indian team wanted for the Test, Gambhir responded with a sharp retort.
"This is exactly the pitch. And I feel that, as I just mentioned before, the curator was very, very helpful. And this is exactly what we wanted, and this is exactly what we got. When you don't play well, this is what happens,” he stated.