IND vs SA 2025: 'Indian players shouldn't be blamed' - Former England captain's interesting analysis after Eden Gardens Test
“Seeing the wicket first and then the scores and then the result in Kolkata, it can only be put down to batters’ modern-day techniques," Kevin Pietersen opined.
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Former England captain Kevin Pietersen opined that India's defeat in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, inside three days was due to the modern-day techniques that batters adopt. He mentioned that batters nowadays don't learn how to build an innings while growing up.
On a rank turner on Day 3, India needed 124 runs to chase down. However, wickets fell like ninepins as Simon Harmer and Co. wreaked havoc. The hosts were bowled out for 93. This turned out to be the second-lowest target they failed to chase down in Test cricket history. Apart from Washington Sundar, who scored 31 off 92 balls, no other batter showed the resolve required to survive in the testing conditions.
“Seeing the wicket first and then the scores and then the result in Kolkata, it can only be put down to batters’ modern-day techniques...Batters grow up now to hit sixes and play switch-hits. They don’t grow up to build an innings and learn the art of survival," Pietersen wrote on 'X'.
However, Pietersen refrained from criticising the players, explaining how the affinity for financial returns has overshadowed the art of survival against quality spin bowling.
“The player is not to blame at all The priority right now in the game isn’t about survival or the art of playing a spinning ball. The game of cricket is now about bright lights, loud music and a financial return for cricket boards, private equity and private ownership," the former England batter added.
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669Prepare a pitch like that and you deserve to lose: Michael Vaughan
Meanwhile, another former England captain, Michael Vaughan, slammed the Indian team, saying they deserved to lose after preparing the kind of pitch they did against World Test Champions South Africa.
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"Prepare a pitch like that and you deserve to lose against the World Test champs …. brilliant win by SA …." Vaughan wrote on X.
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