Former England captain Kevin Pietersen opined that India's defeat in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, inside three days was due to the modern-day techniques that batters adopt. He mentioned that batters nowadays don't learn how to build an innings while growing up.
On a rank turner on Day 3, India needed 124 runs to chase down. However, wickets fell like ninepins as Simon Harmer and Co. wreaked havoc. The hosts were bowled out for 93. This turned out to be the second-lowest target they failed to chase down in Test cricket history. Apart from Washington Sundar, who scored 31 off 92 balls, no other batter showed the resolve required to survive in the testing conditions.
However, Pietersen refrained from criticising the players, explaining how the affinity for financial returns has overshadowed the art of survival against quality spin bowling.