Pant Says Kolkata Pitch Was Poor - Calls Guwahati His Favorite

The second Test between India and South Africa is set to begin tomorrow in Guwahati. The first Test, played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, ended in a 30-run victory for South Africa, with the pitch drawing sharp criticism from former players and experts. As a result, there has been speculation that the Guwahati pitch may also favor spinners.

Responding to these discussions, Indian captain Rishabh Pant shared a confident statement, expressing his belief that the pitch in Guwahati would offer much better conditions this time.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Pant said, “This ground holds a special place in my heart. I made my ODI debut here, and now, this venue is also where I'm beginning my journey as a Test captain. Moreover, this is the first-ever Test being played in Guwahati, which makes it even more memorable for me.”

Commenting on the pitch, he added, “I feel the surface will be much improved this time. It should assist the batters early on, and might start offering some turn as the match progresses. Overall, I expect it to be a good Test wicket.”

Pant also thanked the BCCI for entrusting him with the captaincy. “Sometimes thinking too much about a big match doesn’t help. We didn’t perform well in the first Test, but we’re fully focused on doing whatever it takes to win this one. Our aim is to level the series,” he said.

Team India is determined to put the Kolkata loss behind them and bounce back strongly in the Guwahati Test.