Last Updated on 5 months ago by Charbel Coorey
The Eden Gardens pitch for the first Test between India and South Africa has come under significant criticism. The match ended well inside three days, with the Proteas prevailing by 30 runs in extremely difficult batting conditions.
Sadly, the signs were there from the very first over of the match. Jasprit Bumrah’s second delivery barely bounced and evaded Rishabh Pant and the slips cordon for four byes. The next delivery lifted off the surface and hit the splice of Aiden Markram’s bat.
Day one saw plenty of uneven bounce. Day two saw more uneven bounce and sharp turn, with the top of the surface crumbling further with each passing delivery. After 159 played 189 in the first innings, South Africa fell to 93/7 by the end of day two, with Ravindra Jadeja in particular unplayable on a surface perfect for accurate fingerspinners to wreak havoc.
However, India didn’t have the game firmly in their grasp as any lead around or above 100 was certainly defendable on a pitch where the match was reduced to a shootout. Temba Bavuma’s outstanding 55* (and Corbin Bosch’s 25) helped the Proteas reach an excellent lead of 124. It proved 30 too much for India who were without Shubman Gill due to a neck injury.
Fans, pundits slam Eden Gardens pitch after 1st Test ends in just two-and-a-half days
Like the Eden Gardens pitch, Gautam Gambhir has come for criticism regarding his comments following the 30-run defeat. The India coach said the surface was what they wanted.
“The point is you should know how to play turn. This is what we asked for, and this is what we got. I thought the curator was very supportive, and I still believe that regardless of how the wicket was, 123 was chaseable,” Gambhir said, as quoted by India Today.
“I felt that if you were willing to put your head down, and if you have a solid defence, if you have the temperament, you can definitely score and, it might not be a wicket, which is going to be very, very flamboyant where you can play those big shots, but if you’re willing to put your head down, definitely it’s a wicket where you can score.
“This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. This is exactly the pitch, and I feel that, as I just mentioned before that the curator was very helpful and this is exactly what we wanted and this is exactly what we got. When you don’t play well, this is what happens.”
Anil Kumble was left confused. Dale Steyn said any match that ends inside three days is problematic pitch-wise. Those two greats, along with many fans and former players, were very critical of the pitch, where even the fast bowlers profited from lots of uneven bounce.
“Prepare a pitch like that and you deserve to lose against the World Test champs …. brilliant win by SA,” wrote Michael Vaughan on X (formerly Twitter).
“Hopefully, India just start playing on firm, good pitches again,” wrote Harsha Bhogle.
Here are some of the reactions to the Eden Gardens pitch.
South Africa scored 159 in their first innings with Jasprit Bumrah (5/27) near unplayable. India responded with 189 as the South African bowlers had joy of their own.
The second innings was another shootout. Bavuma’s innings was special and deserving of man of the match, as was Simon Harmer’s eight-wicket haul. In the end, the latter won the award, spinning a web around the Indian lineup on a surface tailor made for his skills.
The second Test begins in Guwahati on November 22.
