Topsy-turvy pitch policy backfires on India, once again

Two incontrovertible facts stand out in the wake of the humbling at Eden Gardens on Sunday — this is India’s fourth defeat in eight Tests at home since Gautam Gambhir's appointments head coach, the four wins having come against Bangladesh and West Indies.

- Somshuvra Laha

Secondly, there is a distinct inconsistency in India’s pitch policy, which has started to mess with their team selection, affecting their results.

There was an attempt at trying to prepare more balanced pitches against West Indies, with Ahmedabad flattening out after helping seamers at the beginning and Delhi playing low and slow. Ahmedabad lasted three days and Delhi all five days. Both times India didn’t see the need to go for six bowling options, keeping Axar Patel out of the eleven, the victories coming pretty easily.

What then possessed India to go for a pitch like Eden Gardens knowing well that South Africa had arrived with two spinners who had done fabulously in Pakistan and Bangladesh? “I felt that the curator was very, very helpful,” India head coach Gautam Gambhir said at the post-match media conference. “This is exactly what we wanted, and this is exactly what we got. When you don't play well, this is what happens.”