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“Blaming a coach…": Robin Uthappa defends Gautam Gambhir after Eden Pitch outrage

Kaushik Kashyap

Robin Uthappa defends Gautam Gambhir. [Source - @its_bl3ze/x.com]Robin Uthappa defends Gautam Gambhir. [Source - @its_bl3ze/x.com]

The Kolkata Test turned into a talking point after India were bowled out for 93 while chasing just 124, with both teams failing to cross 200 on a tense, turning pitch at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Coach Gautam Gambhir faced heavy criticism for backing the surface, prompting mixed reactions from pundits and fans.

Amid the storm, many experts questioned whether such extreme conditions actually benefit India, but former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa stepped in with a contrasting perspective. While the debate continued to flow online, Uthappa made it clear that he disagrees with those blaming Gambhir for the defeat.

Gambhir’s pitch stance fuels a bigger debate

The match itself unfolded in chaotic fashion, with neither batting unit able to stitch together meaningful totals. India’s chase of 124 turned into a collapse, intensifying the scrutiny on the conditions offered.

Moreover, Gambhir’s post-match remark that there were “no demons” and that the pitch was precisely what he and the team wanted only added fuel to public outrage. Many saw it as a refusal to acknowledge deeper issues with India’s batting against turn on challenging surfaces.

Uthappa defends Gambhir amid Kolkata's pitch backlash

Uthappa stepped forward firmly in Gambhir’s defence, calling the criticism surrounding the Eden pitch excessive and misplaced. He argued that blaming the coach for India’s collapse oversimplifies the situation, emphasising that once players are out in the middle, responsibility lies entirely on what they do on the field.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa also clarified that his stance was not driven by any personal means but by fairness.

“I saw a comment yesterday suggesting that I was defending GG. Yaar, coach thodi jaake khel raha hai andar (The coach is not playing out there)," Uthappa said as quoted by India Today.

He stressed that Gambhir was not at fault for the batting failure, we look at India’s broader struggles on turning tracks, a recurring issue far beyond one match or one coach.

“We are looking at the results and blaming a coach, but you have to look at the overall scenario,” Uthappa added.

Looking at the larger picture, India’s recurring struggles on sharply turning tracks point to a long-standing problem. With the talent available, India should be dominating at home on well-balanced, sporting wickets rather than manufacturing surfaces that even out contests.

Such pitches pull the opposition into the game and move India away from their strengths. While South Africa outplayed India, even someone like Anil Kumble was confused with the surface, and Gambhir’s unwavering defence of it raises uncomfortable questions about his approach and long-term intentions.

Is he prioritising winning, or proving his methods right? This is where Uthappa’s stance conflicts sharply with the concerns of many fans, who fear that Gambhir’s insistence on such pitches reflects stubbornness rather than strategy, potentially pushing India further from their current natural strengths.