Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers has stated that maybe Gautam Gambhir has shown his displeasure at Indian batters’ performance in the first Test in Kolkata with his comments on the pitch that helped spinners with turn and bounce from day one.

The uneven bounce helped pacers in the first innings, with Jasprit Bumrah taking five wickets and Marco Jansen troubling the Indian batters as well. Then Simon Harmer picked eight wickets in total in the match as India folded for 93 in pursuit of a 124-run target inside three days.

Gambhir defended the pitch, claiming that it was what they asked the curators to produce and that defensive batting prowess would have allowed for run scoring.

De Villiers believes the thinly veiled remark was an indication that the India coach was dissatisfied with his team.

“Before I could blink, the Test match was over. Exactly the wicket India wanted, says India coach Gautam Gambhir. Very interesting comments there. Maybe he is having a go at the players, saying, ‘This is what we prepared; why didn’t we perform?’” he said on his YouTube channel.

De Villiers added that India is shedding their invincibility at home due to the changing nature of the pitches.

“An interesting trend has been developing in India over the last three to five years. Obviously, it is very difficult to beat India at home, but over the last three to five years, things have been changing. Some concerns for India. They have lost four games there, and that is unheard of… What is happening here? Have they become the worst players of spin? I don’t think so. Oppositions are more prepared and understand the conditions,” De Villiers stated.

“Maybe India has to change the makeup of the pitches and not ask for turners. Make it more of a fair test pitch that will last at least four days,” de Villiers said.

South Africa will hope to win their first Test series in India since 2000 when they clash with India in the second and final Test in Guwahati from November 22 onwards.