Brad Haddin criticised Gautam Gambhir’s approach, saying India rely too much on turning pitches and were far more dominant when Virat Kohli led the team.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has questioned India’s strategy of relying on heavily turning pitches after their 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens. He said this is the second instance under head coach Gautam Gambhir where India have stumbled on surfaces meant to favour them, recalling the 147-run chase failure against New Zealand in Mumbai last year that led to a historic 0–3 home whitewash.
Haddin contrasted this approach with the Virat Kohli era, when India dominated by posting big first-innings totals before allowing their spinners to take control. He believes the current tactics reduce the impact of India’s top-order batters and bring average spinners into the contest.
“When Virat Kohli took over as captain back then, they batted long and put scoreboard pressure. They are leaving too much to chance. It brings ordinary spinners into the game. You just have people who can throw the ball and the wicket will do the rest. I heard that Gambhir came out and said we are happy with the surface we are playing on. This cost them against New Zealand as well,” Haddin said on the Willow Talk podcast.
“They’ve done it twice now under Gambhir. They play their best cricket when it’s not about turning wickets but building scoreboard pressure with their runs. They have taken their world-class batters out of the game. I just think they are leaving too much to chance. India play their best cricket when they put a big total on the board and then they make the opposition claustrophobic with their fields. Their spinners are better than anyone on that surface but their batters are actually not that good players of spin on a surface like that,” he added.
Pollock Questions India’s Mindset After Record Home Chase Failure
Shaun Pollock also criticised India’s approach during their failed chase of 124, the lowest target they have ever fallen short of at home in Tests. He said the batters lacked intent on a difficult surface and failed to identify scoring opportunities.
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“I think on that surface the mindset had to be where can we score from time to time, how can we look to be positive. I thought the intensity went through the roof when Jadeja got to the crease. Pant probably wasn’t there for long enough. Where are those old Indian batters who on certain conditions, even though it’s difficult, found ways of dominating? You think of VVS Laxman, when he played that innings here against Australia. What’s happening with these chases now?,” Pollock concluded.
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