India, Nov. 16 -- India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday broke his silence on the Eden Gardens pitch controversy, offering a fiery defence of the much-debated surface after India's defeat to South Africa in the first Test of the two-match series in Kolkata. Rejecting criticism of the track, Gambhir insisted it was exactly the kind of pitch the team wanted, shifting the focus to the Indian batters and accusing them of lacking discipline and intent in the 30-run loss.

After a 15-wicket Day 2 in Kolkata, India looked poised to take a 1-0 lead against the reigning World Test Champions. South Africa began the third morning seven down and only 63 ahead, seemingly headed for an inevitable defeat. But Temba Bavuma's bravehearted resistance, a...