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Kuldeep Slams ‘Road-Like’ Pitch After SA’s 489

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'They were very lucky in... ': Kuldeep reveals how SA batters outplayed IND's plan

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The second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati has already served up drama, but not the kind the home crowd was hoping for. On a day dominated by the willow, India’s chief spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, was left visibly exasperated, and his post-day comments have sent ripples through the cricketing world. His sharp criticism of the pitch offers a crucial insight into why the match is so heavily tilted in South Africa’s favor after Day 2.

Kuldeep Yadav’s Pitch Criticism Takes Center Stage

Returning figures of 4 for 115 are usually a point of pride for a spinner, especially in a high-scoring game. But for Kuldeep Yadav, it was a bittersweet achievement. His primary frustration wasn’t with his own performance, but with the playing surface itself. The Barsapara Stadium pitch offered him and his fellow bowlers next to nothing in terms of assistance.

“They were very lucky in that way,” Kuldeep remarked, pointing to the lack of turn, bounce, or any real variable that could have forced the South African batters into a mistake . He went a step further, bluntly describing the track as a “pura road”—Hindi slang for a completely flat, unresponsive road that offers no challenge . This candid assessment from a senior player highlights a significant issue for the hosts: a pitch that was expected to offer a balanced contest has instead become a batting paradise.

How South Africa Capitalized on a Flat Deck

South Africa’s first innings total of 489 all out wasn’t just a number; it was a statement built on the foundation of a docile pitch . With the ball refusing to misbehave, the Proteas’ middle and lower order were able to play with a freedom that is rare in Test cricket. Batters who would typically be under pressure against quality spin on a turning track could simply defend or nudge the ball into gaps.

The lack of assistance made it incredibly difficult for India’s captain to set attacking fields. Without the threat of turn or variable bounce, every fielder on the boundary became a liability, and every ball that wasn’t a perfect “jaffa” was a scoring opportunity for the visitors. This dynamic allowed South Africa to post a massive total that has put India under immense scoreboard pressure, trailing by a daunting 480 runs at the close of play on Day 2 .

Barsapara Stadium Pitch: A Batting Paradise?

The pitch at the Barsapara Stadium has been a topic of discussion long before the first ball was bowled. Constructed with red soil and initially showing a light cover of grass, many anticipated a lively contest between bat and ball . However, the reality has been starkly different. Once the grass wore off, the surface flattened out completely, offering true bounce and pace but zero lateral movement for the spinners.

Such a flat and true surface is a dream for batters but a nightmare for bowlers, especially in a Test match format that thrives on creating pressure and forcing errors. The pitch has essentially become a self-fulfilling prophecy of high scores, with the only threat to a batter’s wicket being their own error in judgment or a moment of individual brilliance from a bowler—a luxury that can’t be relied upon over five days.

India’s Bowling Attack: Brilliant or Baffled?

In the face of such a challenging surface, India’s bowling unit had to rely on guile and relentless accuracy. While Kuldeep Yadav managed to be the pick of the bowlers, the entire attack was left toiling.

Here’s a look at how the key bowlers fared on this unresponsive track:

  • Kuldeep Yadav: 4/115 – Showed immense skill to find breakthroughs on a surface that offered him nothing.
  • Mohammed Siraj: Provided control with the new ball but found it hard to maintain pressure as the ball got older.
  • Washington Sundar: Struggled to make an impact, finishing wicketless, as the ball simply didn’t turn as expected.

The assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, had earlier backed Kuldeep as the team’s “X-factor on a lifeless Guwahati pitch” . While his faith was well-placed, even an X-factor can only do so much when the stage itself is working against them.

What’s Next for India in this High-Stakes Test?

Trailing by 480 runs, India’s task is monumental. Their best hope lies in a quick and substantial first-innings lead to put the pressure back on South Africa. The onus will be on their top order—Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who finished Day 2 unbeaten—to convert their starts into big scores .

Looking ahead, the pitch is expected to remain flat for at least another day or two. This means India’s best chance is to bat South Africa out of the game rather than rely on their bowlers to stage a dramatic comeback on this particular surface. For that to happen, they’ll need a collective batting masterclass.

Summary

Kuldeep Yadav’s pitch criticism following South Africa’s massive total of 489 has brought the quality of the Barsapara Stadium surface into sharp focus. His description of it as a “road” underscores the immense challenge faced by India’s bowlers, who were denied any natural assistance. With India trailing by 480 runs, the match’s outcome now hinges almost entirely on their batters’ ability to replicate and surpass South Africa’s performance on this flat, unresponsive deck.

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