“Kolkata defeat isn’t a big worry” - Bhuvneshwar Kumar defends Team India after 30-run loss to SA in 1st Test

Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has defended the Indian team, led by Rishabh Pant, despite suffering a 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to start the series on a back foot.

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Speaking exclusively to PTI, Bhuvi asserted that this isn’t the first time a spin-friendly track has been prepared at home, adding that no one raised this question before because India was winning on such tracks. 

"This is not the first time a spin-friendly track has been prepared. No one raised this question (before) because India was winning. And, winning and losing are part of the game," Bhuvneshwar was quoted as saying by PTI.

"It's not that the team has not lost before, or it has lost for the first time. I don't think it's (defeat) a big worry for me," he added.

Interestingly, Team India selected four spinners in Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar in the playing XI, which didn’t go down well with many. However, Bhuvneshwar backed the Indian team management’s decision. 

"The way the wicket was prepared, we all know that the requirement was for four spinners (Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar). We had some good spinners, it was a turning track and the way the match went, it was a good decision to play (four) spinners," he observed. 

Furthermore, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was asked about Shubman Gill’s workload because of non-stop cricketing action in the ongoing calendar year. Bhuvi went on to add that only Gill can answer the workload query. 

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"Gill has become captain recently. If he so desires, he would speak out for himself. He is part of the think-tank, decision-making, so if he really needs rest he will say that he needs rest. Mentally and physically he is in a position to say that,” he concluded.

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