Mohammad Kaif questions Gautam Gambhir’s approach of playing on turning wickets after loss in 1st Test against South Africa

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif questioned Gautam Gambhir’s approach of playing on turning wickets after the Indian team suffered a 30-run loss against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. India was bowled out for only 93 runs in the second innings in the run chase of 124.

Kaif questioned the team’s decision to play on turning tracks despite knowing that Indian batters have struggled to get going on difficult pitches. India also suffered a 3-0 series loss against New Zealand when they decided to play on helpful pitches for the spinners.

After the loss, Gautam Gambhir said they wanted the track which was given to them by curator Sujan Mukherjee.

Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “In Gautam Gambhir’s era, he thinks that when teams like South Africa or England come, we would play on turning tracks. The problem is that you can make turning tracks, but can our players play on turning tracks? No, they don’t. They have forgotten.”

The Natwest Trophy final hero said Gambhir should take a leaf out of former coach Rahul Dravid’s book. Under Dravid, India defeated England by 4-1 after they decided to play on sporting pitches in home conditions.

“When Rahul Dravid came as a coach. Against England, we won the home series 4-1. At that time, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid had planned that we wanted to turn because we have Ashwin, Kuldeep, and Jadeja. So, we need a spin track, but we don’t want to start with a spin track from the second day.”

“In that series, Jaiswal hit two double centuries. All the matches were finishing in the last session of Day 4. Matches were lasting long, India scored 500, opponents would make 250, then again, we would score 300, and the visitors would get all out for 150.”

“It was the right way of playing Test cricket because Dravid knew that we have Kuldeep, Bumrah, Jadeja, Ashwin, who are not reliant on the pitch, compared to overseas players who need assistance from the pitch,” Kaif added.

India and South Africa will take on each other in the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, from Saturday onwards.