In a challenging chase of 124, India could not answer the questions posed by South Africa\u2019s bowlers, led by Simon Harmer\u2019s 4-21, and were all out for 93 in 35 overs. Without their regular captain Shubman Gill, who was sidelined from the Test match due to a neck injury requiring hospitalisation, India\u2019s batting collapsed like nine pins, with no batter reaching the 50-run mark.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI believe that firstly, we don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cUnfortunately, we were short of one batter. Shubman Gill got injured in the first innings and wasn\u2019t 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,\u201d said Pujara on JioStar, after the game ended.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Following their defeat to South Africa, India have now lost four of their last six Test matches at home. 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Following their defeat to South Africa, India have now lost four of their last six Test matches at home. 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India will have some time to regroup and reassess their batting plans before facing South Africa in the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on November 22.<\/p>\r\n\r\n