‘Indian batsmen are not that good’, the bitter truth shown to Team India after the defeat in Kolkata.

News India Live, Digital Desk: The crushing defeat against South Africa in Kolkata has rubbed salt into the wounds of the Indian cricket team. After this defeat, not only has Team India lagged behind in the series, but new captain Shubman Gill and his batting unit are also facing a ‘brutal reality’. Former cricketers and experts have raised serious questions on the technique and ability of the Indian batsmen, and have refused to accept that this is the best batting line-up in the world.

‘Lions on flat pitches, pile up on difficult pitches’

A former veteran cricketer has strongly criticized Indian batting on the condition of anonymity. He said, “The truth is that Indian batsmen are not as good as they are thought to be. They score a lot of runs on flat, batting-friendly pitches, but as soon as the pitch offers even a little bit of support for the bowlers, be it fast bowling or spin, our entire batting falls apart.”

This criticism directly hits at the Achilles heel of the Indian team, which is often called the ‘flat-track bully’ (lion of flat pitches). On the Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata, where South Africa’s fast bowlers got some help, even big names of India including Shubman Gill were seen struggling.

Captain Gill received his first big warning

This defeat is a big warning for Shubman Gill as captain. He was expected to lead from the front, but he himself failed in both the innings. Experts believe that this defeat is a ‘reality check’ for Gill and new coach Gautam Gambhir. They have to understand that it is not enough to win the match just by making flat pitches at home. The real test comes when circumstances are challenging.

Technical flaws exposed

This defeat has also exposed the technical shortcomings of the Indian batsmen. The footwork and defense of the Indian batsmen looked weak in the face of good pace and swing. Experts believe that Indian batsmen need to work seriously on their technique, so that they can score runs even on foreign tours and difficult home pitches.

This criticism may seem harsh, but it is like a mirror for the Indian team. Now it remains to be seen how captain Shubhman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir deal with this ‘reality check’ and what steps they take to improve the team’s batting.