Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has put his weight behind Gautam Gambhir amid criticism after India lost the opening Test match against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The Proteas were able to stun the hosts by 30 runs to take a lead in a two-match series.
After the loss, head coach Gautam Gambhir’s comments came under the scrutiny as he said they wanted this kind of a track but admitted that the batters didn’t play well as 124 was chaseable. Gambhir said there were no demons in the Kolkata pitch but the batters failed to apply themselves.
“Its not the coach who is playing. What kind of a question is that? People have gone after Rahul Dravid. If he can get trolled and be called, people will call anybody. We anticipated a bit of a dip. Before the England series we were saying we have to be realistic with the expectations. This is side sans Kohli, Rohit, Ashwin, Pujara, Rahane. So its going to be a young side and they will have to show a lot of character. They outdid themselves in England,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.
Uthappa added that the expectations are always lofty from the Indian team but the current side is going through a transition.
“Because it is the Indian team and there are expectations, you cannot escape the fact that this team is under transition. You have to measure your expectations, whether it is home or away. They have the potential to be WTC champions, but not this cycle, maybe in the next cycle. So use this cycle to develop them and give exposure, continue to play on turners but not on underprepared wickets like in Kolkata.”
The former flamboyant batter said the Kolkata pitch was a horrible batting track as it had variable bounce and a lot of turn.
“It was not a turning track, it was a horrible batting track. It was a bad wicket. No batter could ever feel set. There’s not just turn but variable bounce as well. You cannot assume that you are set on this kind of a wicket,” he said.
India and South Africa will take on each other in the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, from Saturday onwards.
