After two grueling days of bowling against a resilient South African batting lineup in Guwahati, Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav delivered a blunt verdict on the Barsapara Cricket Stadium pitch, comparing it unfavorably to the challenging surface in Kolkata and labeling it a complete 'road'.
From Snake-Pit to Highway: A Bowler's Frustration
The contrast between the pitches used in the recent Kolkata Test and the current match in Guwahati could not be more stark. While the Eden Gardens strip was a treacherous snake-pit for batters, the 22-yard strip at Barsapara, hosting its first-ever Test, offered little to no assistance for the bowlers. Kuldeep Yadav, India's most successful bowler in the innings, summed up the team's frustration, stating with a tired smile that the surface was 'absolutely a road'.
This disappointment comes at a time when the Indian team is grappling with its home strategy. The article draws a parallel to the first decade of the 2000s, when India regularly played on similar batting-friendly tracks and still managed an unbeaten run at home until 2012. A significant shift occurred after losses to England, prompting then-captain MS Dhoni to demand dry, black-soil pitches that turned sharply from day one. This tactic transformed India into an impregnable fortress, leading to series whitewashes against top teams like Australia and England.
The Clamour for 'Good Pitches' and the Barsapara Experiment
However, the script has flipped in the last year. India is now staring at a potential second home series defeat, with most losses occurring on rank turners. This led to a loud clamour for more balanced 'good pitches'. In response to the Eden Gardens fiasco, the BCCI prepared a traditional red-soil pitch in Guwahati, which provided good bounce and carry in the first two days. Experts predicted that natural wear and tear would make batting difficult in the second innings.
Yet, on such a track in the first innings, bowlers need to rely on variations in speed, drift, and, crucially, the ability to turn the ball. This is where India's lead spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, struggled immensely. The usually terrifying bowler looked harmless, finishing with figures of 2 for 94. He bowled quick through the air, failing to extract turn, and was smashed by Marco Jansen when he tried to slow it down.
Bowling Concerns and Captaincy Questions
The supporting cast fared no better. Washington Sundar returned figures of 0 for 58 and rarely troubled the batters, as the last four South African wickets piled on a massive 243 runs. Kuldeep Yadav was the sole bowler who tried to use his variations and drift, earning rewards on the first day, but the South Africans played him better on the second. He defended the bowling unit, stating, 'I tried to use the angles and the drift as much as I could, but you'll have to give credit to the South Africans for the way they batted.'
Questions were also raised about the management of bowling resources by skipper Rishabh Pant. Kuldeep bowled 29.1 overs in total, with only 12 coming on the second day, while all-rounder Nitish Reddy was given a mere six overs. When asked if he was under-bowled, Kuldeep diplomatically said, 'It's not my call to take, but when there are six bowlers, someone will be slightly under-bowled.' As India faces a tough battle to save the series, the debate over pitch curation and tactical decisions is set to intensify.
