Kolkata, Nov 15 (UNI) India bowling coach Morne Morkel acknowledged that the team’s pre-match strategy may not have aligned with the rapidly changing surface at the Eden Gardens, stating that the think-tank had deliberately taken conditions out of their planning before the opening day’s play against South Africa.
In what emerged as one of his most revealing remarks, Morkel said the team had approached the Test believing the wicket would hold firm for longer than it eventually did. “The conversation was that it’s a good wicket and hard work. We planned more on how to attack South Africa and took conditions out of the equation,” he said, suggesting that India’s primary emphasis was on tactical aggression rather than adapting to a surface that deteriorated earlier than anticipated.
Morkel reiterated that the rapid wear of the pitch was not something the side foresaw. He said the players had expected turn and uneven bounce to develop deeper into the game, not in the early hours of play. The misreading of the surface, coupled with a shortfall in first-innings runs, has now shaped much of the discussion around India’s position in the Test.
The former South African fast bowler added that India would continue to adjust as the match progresses, taking lessons from the initial misjudgment. He emphasised that the approach moving forward would focus on situational awareness and session-by-session adaptability rather than assumptions made before play began.
Morkel said India would undertake a detailed review after the Test before shifting attention to the next match in Guwahati.
