Author: CT Staff

India’s unexpected 30-run defeat to South Africa in the opening Test at Eden Gardens has sparked widespread criticism, with former pacer Venkatesh Prasad publicly questioning head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. The low-scoring thriller exposed deeper concerns about India’s Test team structure, decision-making, and long-term planning. Batting Collapse Highlights India’s Struggles Playing without captain Shubman Gill, who was sidelined due to a neck spasm, India were set a small fourth-innings target of 124. What looked achievable quickly turned into a disaster as the hosts folded for 93, undone by South African spinner Simon Harmer’s four-wicket burst. The…

India head coach Gautam Gambhir faced strong criticism after India lost the first Test against South Africa in under three days at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The pitch behaved unevenly from early in the match, making South African captain Temba Bavuma’s half-century the highest score across all four innings. Despite widespread concern over the surface, Gambhir insisted at the post-match press conference that the defeat was mainly due to the players’ lack of application, not the pitch conditions. He strongly denied suggestions that the wicket was “unplayable.” According to Gambhir, India had prepared for a surface like this and even requested…