“Our skill against spin has downgraded” - Irfan Pathan slams the Indian team after 1st Test defeat against South Africa

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has asserted that the Indian batters’ skill against spin has heavily come down of late on home tracks. Notably, his comments came right after India’s 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan asserted that the Indian team should play on surfaces that offer turn from the fourth and fifth days of the game instead of having the games end inside three days.

"There have been statements coming out that India didn’t request for such pitches but it came out a few days later that the Indian team did ask for them. It’s contradictory. But they have to play on whatever the pitch is. When we tour, we have such good options of fast bowlers that India perform better and sometimes their batters struggle. We get a chance to win. Similarly, if there is plenty of help on pitches in India, opposition bowlers will come into play because our skill has downgraded. In my opinion, it’s better to play on tracks that turn on days fourth and fifth instead of those that go up and down so early,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Pathan felt that the Indian batters were over-defensive in the fourth innings, while chasing a small target. He reckoned that a few Indian batters should’ve taken an aggressive approach to seal down the target.

"There was a time we were experts in playing spin but now it has changed. Also, the number of white-ball games have increased, so you play with hard hands there. So, the ability to play spin has reduced. If the approach becomes subdued instead of scoring, then it gets batters into trouble. There was pressure as Shubman Gill wasn’t going to bat and South Africa only needed nine wickets but the approach should have been better. If you get over defensive even in Test matches, one or the other deliveries will have your name on it,” he added.

The Eden Gardens surface offered uneven bounce right from the first day of the Test, making life tough for batters. Interestingly, the game got concluded in three days, drawing attention from many in the Indian cricket fraternity. 

India will next lock horns with South Africa in the second and final Test of the two-match series in Guwahati, starting on Saturday, November 22.

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