The first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens ended in a dramatic 30-run defeat for India, who were bowled out for 93/9 while chasing a modest target of 124. Shubman Gill was unable to bat due to injury, adding to the hosts’ woes. Beyond the result, the match has sparked a heated debate over the pitch, which seemed to crumble under pressure and threatened to finish in less than three days. Former India captain and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly has now put the spotlight on the Indian team itself. According to him, the pitch was prepared according to the Indian camp’s preferences, and Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee should not be blamed for its rapid deterioration. Ganguly also revealed that the surface had not been watered for four days before the start of the Test, which contributed to its unpredictable behaviour. “The pitch is what the Indian camp wanted. This is what happens when you don’t water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can’t be blamed,” Ganguly told News18 Bangla. The unusual nature of the wicket drew reactions from several former players. Ex-India wicket-keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said the pitch’s early breakdown was due to it not being watered the night before the match. South Africa’s former pacer Vernon Philander, however, urged focus on the players rather than the pitch, stressing that adapting to conditions is the essence of Test cricket. Batting coach Ashwell Prince admitted the surface eroded the batters’ confidence, saying, “You can’t commit to a shot when the ball shoots or stays low randomly.” Former spinner Harbhajan Singh also criticised the pitch, warning that such surfaces threaten the future of the longest format. “If we keep serving this, Test cricket won’t need opponents to die: we’ll kill it ourselves,” he said on his YouTube channel. With the ICC likely to rate Eden Gardens as “poor” and potentially hand demerit points, the controversy surrounding the Kolkata wicket continues, raising questions about pitch preparation and its impact on the integrity of Test cricket.
