'Batters will have to find a way to score runs on such pitches...': Cheteshwar Pujara gives crucial advice to India after 30-run defeat vs South Africa

Test legend Cheteshwar Pujara reckons that the Indian batting unit will look to adapt better and score runs on difficult pitches after their 30-run defeat against South Africa in the first Test match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Pujara on India's batting collapse

During the 124-run chase, India was unable to stitch a stand against South Africa bowlers, led by Simon Harmer’s 4-21, and were all out for 93 in 35 overs, without skipper Shubman Gill, who was sidelined from the Test match due to a neck injury requiring hospitalisation. India’s batting collapsed with no batter reaching the 50-run mark.

“I believe that firstly, we don’t know whether the team management actually wanted such a pitch. But whatever the surface is, you need to perform on it and you need to be very well prepared. I would say we should have bowled slightly better and, at the same time, batted better.

“Unfortunately, we were short of one batter. Shubman Gill got injured in the first innings and wasn’t available in the second innings as well. That was a big loss for the Indian team. But the Indian batters will have to find a way to score runs on such pitches,” said Pujara on JioStar, after the game ended.

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Pujara's advice to Team India

After losing against South Africa, the Men in Blue have now lost four of their last six Test matches playing on home soil. Pujara, who played 103 Tests for India from 2010 to 2023, also felt that, apart from head coach Gautam Gambhir, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak should assist the batters in being more proactive with their footwork and range of shots to score runs on spin-friendly pitches.

“If the Indian team ends up playing more matches on surfaces like this, then where do the scoring opportunities come from? That is something that needs to be discussed in the team meeting. The batting coach will also have to speak to the batters. They need to use their feet, play the sweep shot, and play a little more positively on such pitches. You need to put the bowler under pressure, and that is something the Indian batters failed to do in this particular Test match.”

India will now face South Africa for the second Test match, which will take place at ACA Stadium in Guwahati.