Irfan Pathan has delivered a scathing critique of India’s pitch strategy after their shocking 30-run defeat to South Africa at Eden Gardens, warning that the team’s batting skills have “downgraded” due to excessive white-ball cricket and reliance on rank turners.

“Skill Has Downgraded”

The former India all-rounder minced no words in his assessment, urging team management to abandon extreme turning tracks. “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,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

“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,” he added, directly criticizing the pitch preparation philosophy that has backfired in recent home Tests.

White-Ball Cricket Impact

Pathan identified the proliferation of white-ball cricket as a key factor in Indian batters’ declining ability to handle spin on challenging surfaces. “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,” he explained.

The all-rounder noted that even when batters start well, adopting an overly defensive approach on extreme turners proves counterproductive. “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,” Pathan stated.

Part-Timers Become Unplayable

Perhaps most damning was Pathan’s observation that excessively turning tracks elevate part-time spinners to match-winners. “Visiting teams are using finger spinners in India. They come with a strategy of bowling into the pitch and hope to get as much purchase out of it. Both Harmer and Maharaj bowled with high pace, getting them more purchase out of the pitch,” he said.

“Even bowlers like Aiden Markram and Glenn Phillips, who are batters, come into the game. If we are playing on such pitches, the skill level needs to be higher or it’s better to not dish out such tracks,” Pathan concluded.

The Contradictory Statements

Pathan also called out the contradictory messaging around pitch preparation. “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,” he noted.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir had stated before the match that it was “exactly the pitch we were looking for,” while later suggestions emerged that the track played differently than expected.

Humiliating Collapse

India’s second-innings implosion validated Pathan’s concerns spectacularly. Chasing just 124 for victory, the hosts were dismissed for a humiliating 93—their lowest total at home against South Africa.

Simon Harmer claimed 4/21, while Keshav Maharaj took 2 wickets as the spin duo exploited the extreme conditions to perfection. Washington Sundar top-scored with just 31 as India collapsed from 26/2 to 93 all out in a little over two sessions.

Fourth Home Loss in Six Tests

The defeat represents India’s fourth home loss in their last six Tests, including the 0-3 whitewash by New Zealand on turning tracks at Pune and Mumbai. The pattern is clear—extreme turners that once favored India now level the playing field, allowing opposition spinners to exploit conditions just as effectively.

The loss also marked India’s first defeat at Eden Gardens since 2012 and Gautam Gambhir’s fourth home Test loss as head coach.

Strategic Rethink Needed

Pathan’s analysis cuts to the heart of India’s current crisis. By preparing extreme turners hoping to neutralize opposition strengths, the team has inadvertently exposed their own declining batting skills against quality spin bowling.

With the second Test starting November 22 in Guwahati, the question is whether India will heed Pathan’s advice and prepare more traditional subcontinental pitches that reward skill over lottery, or double down on a strategy that increasingly backfires.