Eden Gardens Pitch Controversy: Ganguly Points Finger at Indian Management
Former Indian captain and current Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly has squarely placed responsibility for the controversial Eden Gardens pitch on the Indian team management led by skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The ongoing first Test against South Africa has been dominated by discussions about the challenging 22-yard strip that has made batting exceptionally difficult since the match began on November 16, 2025.
Pitch Conditions Spark Outcry
The Eden Gardens surface has provided variable turn and uneven bounce from the opening day, creating significant challenges for batsmen from both teams. Twenty-seven wickets fell within the first two days of the Test match, an unusually high number that raised eyebrows across the cricketing community. The match appeared headed for an early conclusion, likely finishing inside three days despite Test matches traditionally spanning five days.
Particular trouble for batsmen came from the High Court end of the ground, where dark patches on the track were visible since the beginning of the Test. At the time of reporting, India found themselves four wickets down in the fourth innings while chasing a target requiring less than 80 runs for victory.
Former Cricketers Voice Strong Criticism
The nature of the pitch attracted severe criticism from several former cricketers. Notable among them were Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and England's Michael Vaughan, who described the conditions as creating "a mockery of Test cricket." Their comments reflected growing concern about pitches that excessively favor bowlers, potentially undermining the balance between bat and ball that characterizes quality Test cricket.
The rapid fall of wickets and batsmen's struggles against both spin and variable bounce highlighted the extreme nature of the playing surface. Such conditions, while potentially favoring the home team's strengths, risk compromising the quality of the contest and the future of the traditional format.
Ganguly's Revelation: Indian Team Specifically Requested This Pitch
Amid the growing outcry, Sourav Ganguly made a significant revelation to News18 Bangla. The CAB president clarified that the pitch was prepared according to specific instructions from the Indian camp. He explicitly stated that curator Sujan Mukherjee should not shoulder the blame for the conditions.
"The pitch is what the Indian camp wanted," Ganguly confirmed. "This is what happens when you don't water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can't be blamed." This statement directly implicates the team management in the decision-making process that led to the current pitch conditions, shifting responsibility away from the ground staff and local administration.
The controversy raises important questions about home advantage in Test cricket and the ethical boundaries of pitch preparation. While teams traditionally seek conditions that suit their strengths, the extreme nature of this surface has sparked debate about where to draw the line between competitive advantage and compromising the spirit of the game.
