Eden Gardens Kolkata digs its grave! Shubman Gill led India management angry at pitch ploy

Tensions flared at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on the eve of the first Test between India and South Africa as the captain, Shubman Gill, and the team management expressed serious concerns over the pitch conditions.

The iconic Eden Gardens, which is all set to host its first Test in six years, has suddenly become the target of the Indian camp just hours before the start of the match, with the pitch under scrutiny.

Shubman Gill fumes over pitch ahead of South Africa Test

During the final inspection, Shubman Gill was reportedly angry with the nature of the wicket at Eden Gardens and called curator Sujan Mukherjee for a detailed 15-minute discussion.

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Shubman Gill raises concerns about the pitch at Eden Gardens, Sourav Ganguly visits the ground and inspects it along with curator Sujan Mukherjee.

Indian team management looked clearly unhappy after examining the pitch. Gill summoned Sujan Mukherjee for a 15-minute chat pic.twitter.com/q7mhbOndgd

— KKR Karavan (@KkrKaravan) November 13, 2025

It is being said that the Kolkata surface looked unusually dry, raising fears of unpredictable bounce and uneven turn, and something that clearly didn’t sit well with the Indian camp.

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Adding to the drama, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) chief Sourav Ganguly made an unexpected visit to the stadium and personally inspected the pitch alongside the curator, Sujan Mukherjee. Even the Indian chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, also arrived later to assess the situation.

Ajit Agarkar inspects the Eden Gardens pitch

In the viral pictures, Agarkar was seen interacting with the pitch curator and the Indian support staff at the Eden Gardens, showing how seriously they are taking the matter. Even earlier this week, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir was also seen engaged in an animated discussion with Mukherjee.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar is here at the Eden Gardens. pic.twitter.com/sEZ25p25Yg

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) November 13, 2025

The upcoming first Test between India and South Africa will mark the return of red-ball cricket to Eden Gardens after the memorable pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in 2019. But much has changed since then, as a new generation of Indian players has taken charge following the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Curator Sujan Mukherjee crafts a perfectly balanced Eden Gardens wicket for IND vs SA Test

Meanwhile, the Kolkata surface is expected to stay true to its tradition with a bit of green to help pacers early on, before gradually assisting the spinners as the game progresses.

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Reports suggested that a thin layer of grass has been left on the pitch to ensure consistent bounce and carry, making it an exciting contest between bat and ball. Curator Sujan Mukherjee has prepared the wicket carefully, aiming to create the right balance while keeping India’s strengths in mind.

While the surface is expected to offer a turn, it won’t be overly tricky or unpredictable. Mukherjee has also hinted that he tried to prepare the wicket in a way that would benefit the home side slightly, ensuring India gets the kind of support they need without compromising the overall quality of the surface.

The pitch curator was quoted as saying by Revsportz, “The pitch will be good. It will be a good sporting wicket. As the days progress, there will be a turn. There will be bounce. But everybody—batter, bowler—there is something for everybody on this pitch. The chat with the team was like every home team. See, if you go to Australia, there will be bounce. Likewise, Indian teams ask for a bit of turn. Not much, but they ask for a bit of turn.”