What did Gautam Gambhir say about the Indian team's preference for turning pitches?

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has defended the team's preference for spin-friendly pitches at home, despite the recent Test series against South Africa ending in just two-and-a-half days.

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Indian Coach Defends Spin-Friendly Pitches Despite Team's Collapse

Q: What did Gambhir say about the pitch prepared for the recent India-South Africa Test series?

Gambhir admitted that the team had asked for the exact type of pitch they received from the curator, and that the curator was "very, very helpful" in providing the pitch the team wanted, despite the embarrassing collapse of the Indian batters in both innings.

17 Nov

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Summary

Gambhir unhappy with Tests ending in under 3 days on turning tracks
Defends Indian batters' struggles against spin, says DRS a factor
Backs curator for providing the pitch India asked for in recent Test

Indian Coach Defends Spin-Friendly Pitches Despite Team's Collapse

In November 2025, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed his dissatisfaction with the team playing on turning pitches at home, which have resulted in Test matches ending in under three days. His remarks came after the 2022-23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where the first three Tests finished within four days.

Gambhir defended the Indian batters, saying players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma are good players of spin bowling. However, he acknowledged that the use of DRS has played a significant role in the quick finishes.

Fast forward to the present, and Gambhir has once again defended the team's preference for spin-friendly pitches. After India's recent Test series against South Africa, which ended in just two-and-a-half days, the coach admitted that the team had asked for the exact type of pitch they received from the curator. He stated that the curator was "very, very helpful" in providing the pitch the team wanted, despite the embarrassing collapse of the Indian batters in both innings.

Gambhir's stance highlights the ongoing debate around the use of turning tracks in India, with the coach seemingly prioritizing the team's home advantage over the desire for longer, more engaging Test matches.

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