Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has claimed that Indian Test batsmen are feeling insecure due to frequent chopping and rotation under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Kaif said the current team management did not support the batsmen enough, adding that fear was evident in the way they batted during their 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test in Kolkata.
India failed to chase down 124 in the final innings as they were overtaken by spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj after fast bowler Marco Jansen provided the first breakthroughs. Apart from Washington Sundar, who was trying to thrash it out, none of the other Indian batsmen had it easy against the South African bowlers.
“The players don’t believe in themselves, there is also uncertainty. When there is uncertainty and you come to play on spin, you will not be able to do well,” said Kaif.
The former batsman added that players have not performed consistently in Test cricket and pointed out that Sarfaraz Ahmed was dropped despite scoring a hundred against New Zealand last year. Kaif also pointed out that Sai Sudharsan was dropped from the playing XI after scoring a crucial 87 against the West Indies in his previous Test.
Playing Washington Sundar at No.3, India went into the game with six bowling options, including four spinners. Dhruv Jurel featured alongside Rishabh Pant as the batting unit underwent a number of changes for the series opener.
“THERE IS NO BACKUP”
“Whoever they’re playing, they don’t feel like anyone cares about them. There’s no support, everyone’s playing with fear,” he said.
“If Sarfaraz Khan’s place is not confirmed after 100 scored hundred. Even after scoring 100, he is not able to come back. Sai Sudharsan scored 87. He is not playing the next Test match. I think there is a lot of confusion in this team,” he added.
The Eden Gardens course saw uneven bounce and spin on opening day. Not once did either team manage to cross the 200-run mark as the contest heavily favored the bowlers. India’s demand for a spin-friendly pitch failed as the dry surface made it difficult for them to chase down 124 in the final innings. India lost despite taking a 30-run first innings lead.
In the final innings after India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to Jansen, Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel added 32 runs for the third wicket. However, Harmer struck a crucial blow by removing Jurel before dismissing vice-captain Rishabh Pant for 2.
Ravindra Jadeja held on for a 26-ball 18 but also fell LBW to Harmer.
The big blow came when India lost Washington Sundar and slipped to 72 for 6. The left-hander, who looked most assured in the middle, was undone by part-timer Aiden Markram as Temba Bavuma made great use of his spin options.
Axar Patel tried to counter-attack Keshav Maharaj but the left-hander fell to his left hand on 26.
India were also missing skipper Shubman Gill, who did not bat in the second innings after suffering a neck injury in the first.
While the spicy nature of the pitch came under scrutiny, the head coach Gambhir refused to blame the Eden Gardens curatorwith the pitch being exactly what they required. Instead, Gambhir pointed the finger at the Indian batsmen for failing to adapt to the unpredictable surface.
Gambhir highlighted how Temba Bavuma, the South Africa captain, managed to score a decisive fifty in the second innings to help his side set India a tricky target.
However, several former players, including Kris Srikkanth and Cheteshwar Pujara, disagreed with Gambhir’s defense of the pitch, saying it was unfair to blame the batsman for the horror show in Kolkata.
India will look to avoid another home series whitewash when they take on South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati on Saturday, November 22.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
November 17, 2025
Tune in
