Sourav Ganguly has added further clarity to the ongoing discussion around the Eden Gardens pitch, offering a detailed account of how the surface was prepared ahead of India’s 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test. With questions continuing to swirl over who influenced the nature of the wicket, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president explained that the BCCI’s own curators had taken charge of the pitch well before the match began. Speaking to India Today, Ganguly made it clear that he had no role in shaping the pitch, stressing that the BCCI’s pitch team assumes control four days prior to a Test.
“I don’t get involved in that at all,” he said when asked whether the team management sought his input. “The BCCI curators take over the wickets four days before the Test. Our own curator, Sujan Mukherjee, has been excellent for many years. The team puts in its requests, and those requests are followed. That’s all there is to it.” Ganguly was also frank in his assessment, admitting the surface did not match expectations and insisting that the Indian batting lineup deserved a better wicket. “It wasn’t the greatest pitch, I must admit,” he said. “The top order and middle order deserved a better surface. Eden was full for three days, and I genuinely believe that Gautam Gambhir and his team should play on pitches far better than what they got.” Curator Sujan Mukherjee backed this up, saying he prepared exactly what the team management sought. “Sometimes it’s beyond our control, but we always try to meet the captain and coach’s instructions,” Mukherjee said. “Gautam Gambhir himself said after the match that he wanted such a pitch, and that’s what we provided.” The loss has intensified scrutiny on India’s home Test form, particularly under new coach Gambhir. But Ganguly dismissed any suggestion of a change in leadership. “There’s no question of removing Gautam Gambhir,” he asserted. “Both Gautam as coach and Shubman as captain performed exceptionally well in England on good batting tracks, and I’m certain they can succeed in India too.” With the team trailing 0-1 in the series, the Guwahati Test now becomes crucial as India look to avoid their first home series defeat to South Africa since 2000.
