India unmoved after Eden controversy; BCCI wary of GuwahatiGuwahati as pitch plan for 2nd Test revealed: Report
India held their stance on turning tracks despite the Eden backlash, as the BCCI grow wary over Guwahati’s first Test pitch. Photo by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata:The Indian team has been at the centre of criticism amid the controversy surrounding the 'demonic' Eden Gardens track, after head coach Gautam Gambhir admitted that it was the management who had demanded a turner in Kolkata following the 30-run loss in the series against South Africa. On a track which was supposed to aid the home spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, visiting tweaker Simon Harmer rocked the Indian batting line-up with a four-fer in each innings to hand the Proteas their first win on Indian soil in 15 years.
Indian skipper Shubman Gill with teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal during the practice session at Eden Gardens in Kolkata
Despite the raging criticism aimed at the Indian team management, with experts urging them to reconsider their pitch philosophy and trust their arsenal of fast bowlers, the hosts remain unmoved. According to a report in The Times of India, the home team remains bullish on playing on rank turners against South Africa, which has left the BCCI concerned.
Indian batters Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel experimented with batting without a front pad during optional practice, a technique aimed at improving front-foot play against spin. This traditional drill encourages batters to rely on their bat for defense, addressing a tendency to play on the back foot. The move comes as Shubman Gill's participation in the upcoming Test remains uncertain.
During Monday's optional practice session at Eden Gardens, Indian batters Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel adopted an unconventional approach by wearing only one pad while facing spin bowlers.
As reported by news agency BS News Agency, the nearly three-hour session revealed a strategic method behind this unusual practice technique. Left-handed Sudharsan removed his right pad to achieve a longer front-foot stride without leg protection.
Although Sudharsan missed the Eden Test, his participation in the upcoming Guwahati match remains uncertain. Batting without a front pad against left-arm and off-spinners required extra caution to protect exposed areas from potential injuries.
This traditional training technique emphasises using the bat as the primary defensive tool rather than relying on leg pads. Players typically resort to using their front pad as initial protection when wearing full gear, often resulting in leg-before-wicket situations.
The removal of the front pad during practice forces batters to prioritise bat usage for defence. This drill specifically addresses Indian left-handed batters' tendency to play on the back foot when struggling to read spin deliveries.
The practice method encourages players to move forward and neutralise the spin at its source. Right-handed Jurel also practised without his right pad while working on reverse sweep shots from the centre pitch.