After suffering a shocking 30-run defeat against South Africa at the Eden Gardens, the spotlight shifted from the players to the pitch, which came under heavy criticism for excessive turn and uneven bounce. Several former cricketers questioned India’s strategy of preparing a rank turner after the team collapsed for 93 runs while chasing just 124.
But on Tuesday morning, a surprising scene unfolded at the same venue.
During Team India optional training session, head coach Gautam Gambhir and Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee were seen meeting warmly, engaging in a light conversation and even sharing a friendly hug. The interaction instantly went viral, raising eyebrows and calming rumours of tension between the two.
Gambhir & Curator Seen Chatting Comfortably
In the viral clip from the practice session, both Gambhir and Sujan Mukherjee appear relaxed and smiling, indicating that things are “absolutely fine” between them despite the backlash after the first Test.
This comes at a time when fans and experts were blaming the curator for preparing an “over-spin-friendly pitch,” while others felt India itself asked for such a surface.
Gambhir friendly gesture has now shifted the narrative, showing strong communication and clarity within the team setup.
After the defeat, Gambhir defended the pitch and the Indian batters, saying:
“This wicket was not unplayable. Sujan Mukherjee gave us exactly the pitch we asked for. On such tracks, only mentally strong players score.
Had we won, nobody would be discussing the pitch.”
His strong statements hinted that the team management itself demanded a turning wicket, which unexpectedly backfired as South Africa’s spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj outplayed India.
Optional Training: Suryudharan & Jurel Focus on Spin
Only a handful of Indian players attended the optional practice.
Notable observations from the session:
- Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel trained extensively against spin.
- Players experimented with batting using only one pad, a technique used to improve balance against turn.
- Coach Gambhir closely monitored Sudharsan, who is in contention to replace the injured Shubman Gill for the second Test in Guwahati.
The team clearly wants to correct its mistakes before the next Test on 22 November.
Also see: WTC Final Qualification: After Kolkata Defeat, How Many Wins Does India Need Now?
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar backed Gambhir, stating that the pitch was not the problem:
“124 runs was a chaseable target.
Harmer bowled smartly—mixing straight balls with the turning ones.
The pitch cannot be blamed.”
With Gavaskar echoing Gambhir’s thoughts, the criticism of the curator seems to be fading.
