IND vs SA: Cheteshwar Pujara takes a dig at India's humiliating loss in Kolkata
Cheteshwar Pujara, long admired for his trademark calmness and composed demeanour, appeared uncharacteristically frustrated following India’s 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens on Sunday, November 16. The usually serene batter did not hide his disappointment, openly criticising the team’s performance and stressing that India should not be losing Test matches at home, even during a transitional period. Pujara pointed out that despite undergoing a phase of rebuilding, especially after the retirements of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, the squad still possesses ample talent and depth.
IND vs SA: Cheteshwar Pujara becomes critical of India following the Kolkata loss
He insisted that the players currently in the setup are capable of performing at the highest level, and that such losses raise concerns about temperament and application rather than ability. He further reminded that earlier in the year, India had shown commendable resilience with a relatively inexperienced side, managing a 2-2 draw against England in challenging conditions during the UK tour. According to Pujara, that performance proved the team’s potential, making the defeat in Kolkata all the more disappointing. He urged the group to reflect, regroup, and respond strongly in the remaining matches.
"I don't agree with this. Transition ki wajah se Bharatiya team Bharat mein haare, woh digest nahi ho sakta (The Indian team losing in India because of the transition cannot be digested)," former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara said during a discussion.
"India lost in England and Australia due to the transitional phase, which is still acceptable. But the talent and potential that India has, look at the first-class records of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill. Despite those first-class records, if we lose in India, it means that something is wrong," he added.
Pujara felt that preparing a rank turner at Eden Gardens for the IND vs SA 1st Test ultimately diminished India’s usual home advantage. According to him, excessively spin-friendly conditions tend to level the playing field, allowing visiting teams to exploit the unpredictability of the surface rather than testing their overall skill. He argued that India’s strength at home has traditionally come from playing on balanced wickets that offer something for everyone, pace, bounce, and later, controlled turn, thereby allowing the home side’s batters and bowlers to use their familiarity to full effect.
In his view, a more conventional, well-prepared wicket would have given Shubman Gill and the rest of the batting unit a far better platform to construct meaningful innings and chase down the modest target. Pujara stressed that while challenging conditions can be part of the game, they should not be so extreme that they negate the advantages of playing at home.
"India had a better chance to win this Test if the match had been played on a good wicket. How do you define Tests? On which wickets will your percentage to win be higher? That percentage drops on such wickets and the opposition becomes equal to you," Pujara concluded.
India have now slipped to their fourth Test defeat at home since 2024, a worrying trend for a team long considered nearly unbeatable in their own conditions. Their struggles were evident even last year, when they suffered a surprising 0-3 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand between October and November. That series exposed several vulnerabilities which, as the latest loss to South Africa shows, are yet to be fully addressed.
Despite these setbacks, the Asian giants still have an opportunity to turn things around. They will be eager to respond with greater clarity and determination when they take on the Proteas in the second and final Test of the series. The India vs South Africa 2nd Test match, scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 22, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, offers India a crucial chance to level the series and rebuild confidence. A strong performance will be vital to regain momentum and restore belief in their red-ball setup.
