Team India stumbled to shocking 30-run loss to South Africa in the first match off two-Test series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. It was India’s fifth loss at home in the last 8 Tests which includes a 3-0 series whitewash against New Zealand at home last year. It was the first Test win for South Africa in India after 15 years. Temba Bavuma’s South Africa have now taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series ahead of the second Test in Guwahati which begins on Saturday. The Indians failed to chase down 124 to win in the final innings bowled out for just 93 in the absence of skipper Shubman Gill due to a neck injury. Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara and former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had scathing review of the Indian batting after their abject surrender in the Kolkata Test. Pujara who retired from international cricket earlier this year feels there is something seriously wrong with the team if they are continuing to lose at home. Speaking on JioStar’s post-match show ‘Cricket Live’ JioStar expert Cheteshwar Pujara challenged the view that team transition was to blame emphasizing India’s abundant talent and shared his opinion on the kind of pitches India needs to play on for better results. Pujara highlighted the talent in the Indian squad and emphasized the need for better adaptation to challenging pitch conditions: “I don’t agree with the view that India’s defeat at home can be attributed to a transitional phase. While it’s understandable to face setbacks abroad during a transition period the current Indian side possesses ample talent and strong first-class records—players like Yashasvi Jaiswal KL Rahul Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill have all proven themselves. If the team is losing in home conditions despite this it suggests that something else is wrong” Pujara said. Pujara retired from Test cricket with 7195 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 43.6 with 19 hundreds and 35 fifties. “Had this match been played on a good pitch India’s chances of winning would’ve been much higher. The nature of such wickets reduces our winning percentage and brings the opposition on a level footing. Even an India A team given the depth of talent could challenge South Africa at home. So it’s not a lack of ability. Therefore blaming transition for this defeat in India isn’t justifiable” he added.     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Star Sports India (@starsportsindia) Harbhajan Singh was even more brutal in his review of Team India. “They have completely destroyed Test cricket. Rest in peace Test cricket” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel. “The kind of work they have done the kind of pitches that have been made for so many years now I have been seeing it. No one talks about it because it is fine the team is winning someone is taking wickets someone is becoming great by taking those wickets. So everyone feels everything is going well. But I feel that this practice has not started today. It has been going on for many years and I feel it is the wrong way of playing” Harbhajan who had taken 13 wickets at same venue in India’s famous 2001 win over Australia said. Harbhajan believes it is time to reflect on the issue as such pitches do not contribute to the development of players. “You are not moving forward in any way you are just going around in circles like an ox tied to a mill. You are winning but there is no real benefit. As a cricketer you are not growing” he said.