‘India needs pitches where batter’s skill is tested not luck’- Cheteshwar Pujara after India loses 1st Test in Kolkata

Cheteshwar Pujara, veteran India batter, believes that India should seriously reevaluate constructing pitches where Test matches are ending on Day 3 in order to bring back their spin bowlers, who are competent enough to function even on flat fields and don't depend on chance.

This comes after India lost the first Test to South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on day three on November 16, 2025. India batters failed to chase down 124 runs and were bundled out for 93 runs, as Simon Harmer picked four wickets in the innings and eight wickets in the match.

After the loss, coach Gautam Gambhir said that the surface was exactly what the team had wanted and that Indian batters should know "how to play turn." However, Pujara said that since a lot depends on luck, selecting these rank-turner pitches would be a bad idea.

“Luck plays a major part when you are playing on a rank turner. What India needs to do is start playing on a slightly better pitch. I’m not saying that you don’t play on a turning track. You always did that, support for the bowlers so that they are getting some assistance from the pitch. But it has to be a pitch where you should be able to score 100 if you are playing well, if you’re working hard, and if you are reacting well,” Pujara said on Star Sports, quoted by Indian Express.

A good pitch is one that rewards skill and hard work, according to the former No. 3, who has had numerous heroic batting appearances for India.

“You need to play on a pitch where you have a chance. You are giving yourself the best chance. If you are skillful, your skill should come out,” he added.

Pujara has noticed a discernible change since 2020, where matches are getting wrapped up on Day 3.

“When you start playing on rank turners, which India has done since 2020, a majority of the games—I would say 70 or 80% of the games—have been played on a pitch where the result has been in three days, within the three days of the five-day match.

It’s important that India plays on a pitch where the results are on Day Four or Day Five, which is a slightly better pitch to bat on in the first innings. And as you get into the second innings, the ball starts turning a bit more; it becomes very challenging,” Pujara added.

Pujara claimed that although Temba Bavuma provided a model for batting, the Indian batters needed more patience and application against spinners after collapsing in both innings.

“You need to have a good defense. When you are defending, you need to defend in front of the pad. Most of the dismissals have been LBW or bowled. So when you are defending against spinners, you need to ensure that your bat is in front of the pad. So if you’re defending well, what you’re doing is you are facing the best of a bowler, and you’re disappointing the bowler, and the delivery is being defended well,” Pujara stated.

The second and final test will be played in Guwahati from November 22 onwards.

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