Team India succumbed to a shocking 30-run defeat inside three days in the first Test against South Africa at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

India failed to chase a target of 124 on a crumbling surface, getting bowled out for a paltry 93. It came after the hosts were bowled out for 189 in their first innings.

India's batting collapsed like nine pins, with no one reaching the 50-run mark across two innings. In fact, only Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma managed to register a 40-plus score in the game, finishing unbeaten on 55 in the third innings.

While the track used for the series opener came under severe scrutiny, India head coach Gautam Gambhir insisted the Kolkata pitch had “no demons”.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has now voiced a similar sentiment, saying the pitch was not vicious and it was the Indian batters’ lack of temperament and sound technique that led to this defeat instead.

“Totally agree with Gautam Gambhir. 124 was chaseable on this pitch. There was no question about it,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“A lot of people are talking about what the pitch was doing, but if you had a look at what Simon Harmer was doing in an over, how many of his deliveries were turning? He was mixing it up really well. He bowled straight and got the odd one to turn,” he added.

The 76-year-old was critical of the Indian batters’ temperament, noting they were attempting big shots far too early.

“So, it was not a vicious turning pitch. It was a pitch on which you needed to bat as if you were playing a five-day Test, not a 50-over match or a Twenty20 where, after three dot balls, you try to play a break-out-of-jail shot. That’s the issue. One hundred and twenty-four should have been chased with at least five wickets in hand with the kind of batting line-up India had,” Gavaskar said.

“I fully agree with Gautam Gambhir that there was nothing wrong with the pitch. The odd ball turned — on Day 3, that’s normal. How many of Maharaj’s deliveries turned? How many of Jadeja’s or Axar’s turned?

“People are calling it a spinning pitch. It was nothing vicious. Poor technique and poor temperament have landed us in this situation,” he further stated.

Gavaskar also questioned why India were unable to watch and learn from Bavuma, who scored a crucial half-century and faced 136 deliveries in the third innings.

“The Indian batters had the example of Temba Bavuma. You may forget what happened the previous day, but Bavuma had played an innings of exceptional character just hours earlier. He batted with real temperament, technique, and dedication. That should at least have been at the back of their minds,” Gavaskar said.

With this defeat, India conceded an unassailable 1-0 lead to Proteas in the two-match series. The home team will be keen to level the series when they face South Africa in the second Test, starting on November 22 in Guwahati.