Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is also the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), reckons that the Eden Gardens pitch, which was used during the first Test match against South Africa, was not the best Test wicket. Netizens and former Indian cricketers started questioning the Kolkata pitch after Team India failed to chase down a mere 124-run target during the opening Test of the Gandhi-Mandela Trophy 2025.
However, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir later said that they asked for a pitch like that while addressing the media after South Africa's 30-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test match series.
Sourav Ganguly on Eden Gardens pitch for 1st Test
After India's defeat, in an exclusive conversation with Sports Tak, Ganguly said that it was not the greatest Test match, but Team India should have chased down the 124-run target, while agreeing that the pitch was made on Gautam Gambhir's instructions.
"It's not a controversy, not the best Test wicket so unfortunately India lost. India's team should have got 124. It was not the greatest of test pitch. The pitch was made on Gautam Gambhir's instructions. I am very fond of Gautam; he has done well in the 2011 and T20 World Cups. He will continue for a while, but he must play on good pitches in India" Ganguly told Sports Tak.
Ganguly further stated that both teams played on the same pitch but Shubman Gill's absence played a huge role in the opener Test.
"Shubman Gill's vacuum was a lot of a top-class batter number four batter; he couldn't bat in two innings and we lost by 30 runs. The pitch was the same for both teams" Ganguly also said.
Gautam Gambhir on Eden Gardens pitch
Gautam Gambhir defended Kolkata's Eden Gardens pitch, saying it was precisely the kind of track they were looking for ahead of the first Test against South Africa.
"It was not an unplayable wicket. This (pitch) is exactly what we asked for and this is what we got, the curator (Sujan Mukherjee) here was very supportive. I think it's a wicket that can judge your mental toughness, as ones who played with good defence scored runs," said Gambhir in the post-match press conference.
Gambhir further explained, giving the example of Temba Bavuma (55 not out) and Washington Sundar (31 off 92 balls)
"This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. There were no demons or not unplayable. Axar, Temba, Washington made runs. If you say this is a turning wicket, majority wickets were taken by seamers," he added.
The head coach further stated that India preferred such an unwatered pitch to render the toss invalid.
"We ask for the pitch to aid spinners from day one so that toss doesn't become crucial. Had we won the Test you wouldn't be asking or discussing so much about pitch. We've got the guys to deliver in any condition," he added.
The second Test match between India and South Africa will take place from November 22 to 26 at ACA Stadium in Guwahati.