Sourav Ganguly openly attacks Gautam Gambhir for Eden Gardens Pitch in Kolkata

The first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata has turned into a controversy, with the game racing toward an early finish and the pitch coming under the scanner once again. And the former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly put the entire blame on Gautam Gambhir.

Fans and cricket experts are shocked as none of the four innings crossed even 200 runs, raising serious questions about how the surface was prepared for such a high-profile series. The Eden Gardens pitch has made an image for its green cover and pace-friendly bounce in recent years.

Pitch controversy explodes as Sourav Ganguly exposes Indian team management’s role

But the surface suddenly behaved like an old-school turning track for the ongoing first test between India and South Africa. From Day 1 itself, the ball was gripping, keeping low, bouncing unevenly, and giving batters nightmares.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Read Also: "Ravindra Jadeja was done with CSK" - Filthy details revealed

Even though Jasprit Bumrah picked up a five-wicket haul on the opening day, spinners soon dominated as the pitch kept breaking down at surprising speed.

With the match expected to end inside three days, Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee faced heavy criticism, with many blaming him for preparing a surface that looked impossible to bat on from the very first session.

Sourav Ganguly blames Gautam Gambhir for the pitch disaster

However, the controversy took a dramatic turn when Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly made a big revelation. The former Indian captain has defended the pitch curator, Sujan Mukherjee, and revealed that the surface was prepared exactly the way Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill had requested.

Ganguly openly blamed the Gambhir-Gill duo for the disaster. Adding to the shock, Sourav Ganguly also revealed that the pitch had not been watered for four days before the start of the Test, making it drier and more spin-friendly. As a result, the surface behaved just the way the Indian team management wanted, breaking apart early and giving bowlers maximum help.

Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying by News18 Bangla: “The pitch is what the Indian camp wanted. This is what happens when you don’t water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can’t be blamed.”

Read Also: Mitchell Marsh to replace Rishabh Pant as LSG captain? Franchise makes official announcement before auction

Indian camp shocked while experts divided on Eden Gardens pitch

Earlier, former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik said that the pitch had not been watered the night before the Test, and this allowed the surface to dry out too much. Karthik commented, “The pitch wasn't watered the night before the match. That's why it broke up so early.”

Meanwhile, the former South African fast bowler Vernon Philander insisted that the attention should be on how players handle tough situations, instead of criticizing the pitch. Philander said on air, “Talk about the players, not the pitch. Test cricket is about adapting.”

On the other hand, South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince admitted that the surface had become extremely unreliable. Prince further stated, “You can't commit to a shot when the ball shoots or stays low randomly.”

Even India was caught off guard, as the bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted that his team did not expect the pitch to fall apart at such a rapid pace. After a dramatic second day where 15 wickets tumbled, Morkel admitted that the level of deterioration was far beyond their imagination.