Ashwell Prince says India took a gamble by preparing the sort of pitch seen in Mohali in the first Test.

The state of the pitch was discussed at length in the SuperSport studio after India won the Test by 108 runs inside three days, thanks in large part to their trio of spinners.

‘I think it’s a gamble India took preparing that pitch because the toss had a big impact on the outcome of the game,’ Prince said.

‘I feel India did okay. Nobody was outstanding in their batting line-up. If the roles were reversed we could have put them under some major pressure but they won the toss and had the best part of the conditions.

‘If we won the toss we would have had a different result.’

HD Ackerman described the Test as a ‘duel in the dirt’ but didn’t feel that India were that much better than South Africa.

‘It was a sub-standard surface for Test cricket. South Africa don’t need to fear this Indian side and say they out performed us in every department. Not at all. India weren’t brilliant, but they did what they needed to do to win the Test match,’ Ackerman said.

Eric Simons gave India credit for preparing a pitch which would suit them.

‘They would not have asked for that pitch if South Africa had an R Ashwin in their side. Our worst fears were realised at the toss. It [the game] ran the course we perhaps expected. We will learn from this game.

‘I think we will see a similar wicket for second Test, but not as bad as this one.’