India succumbed to a shocking 30-run defeat inside three days at Eden Gardens.
Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar feels that India's 30-run defeat in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata is nothing to worry about.
The Kolkata Test was over inside three days as India's batting collapsed like nine pins on a crumbling surface, 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.
Amid heavy criticism of the pitch, Bhuvneshwar threw a jibe at the critics, saying that it was never questioned when India were winning.
India's loss evoked comparisons with last year's 0-3 series whitewash against New Zealand, where rank turns backfired for the home side.
"This is not the first time a spin-friendly track has been prepared. No one raised this question (before) because India was winning. And, winning and losing is part of the game," Bhuvneshwar was quoted as saying by PTI.
"It's not that the team has not lost before or it has lost for the first time. I don't think it's (defeat) a big worry for me," he added.
India’s decision to go with four spinners – Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar – in Kolkata Test has come under severe scrutiny.
However, Bhuvneshwar defended the move, noting it suited the pitch. "The way the wicket was prepared, we all know that the requirement was for four spinners (Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar). We had some good spinners, it was a turning track and the way the match went, it was a good decision to play (four) spinners," he said.
Shubman Gill's absence due to a neck injury didn’t help India’s cause either, but Kumar refused to make a comment on the captain’s workload.
"Gill has become captain recently. If he so desires, he would speak out for himself. He is part of the think-tank, decision-making, so if he really needs rest he will say that he needs rest. Mentally and physically he is in a position to say that,” he remarked.
India will be keen to level the series when they face South Africa in the second Test, starting on November 22 in Guwahati.