Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee expressed confidence that the pitch for the much-anticipated first Test between India and South Africa would “offer something for everyone”, adding that help would be in place for the spinners. In an exclusive interview with India Today in Kolkata, the senior curator hinted that the team management, led by coach Gautam Gambhir, had asked for a little diversion from the surface.
India will take on South Africa in the first of the two-match Test series in Kolkata from Friday, November 14. All eyes will be on the pitch as reigning World Test champions South Africa are expected to provide India with their first major home challenge since last year’s terrible defeat 0:3 with New Zealand. India opened their 2025/26 domestic season with a 2-0 win over visiting West Indies last month on pitches that did not change the order.
India learned a harsh lesson from this unprecedented 0-3 whitewash: rank turners can backfire. New Zealand tourers Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner came up against the likes of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and inspired a historic upset.
“The pitch will be good. It will be a good sporting wicket. As the days go on, there will be a turnaround. There will be a bounce. But everybody – batsman, bowler – there is something for everybody on this pitch,” Sujan Mukherjee said after India’s non-compulsory practice session on Tuesday.
“Talking to the team like any domestic team. Look, if you go to Australia, there will be a bounce. Likewise, Indian teams are asking for a bit of diversion. Not much, but they are demanding a bit of diversion,” he added.
Asked if the rank-and-file spinners could come back to haunt India again, the curator said, “How can I say that? Those who are playing will know it. Our job is to prepare the pitch and try to give a good pitch. I hope the people watching the match will enjoy the match between the bat and the ball.”
ISN’T HE HAPPY ABOUT IT?
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill and Sitanshu Kotak had a long chat with Sujan at the end of practice. Contrary to speculation, the Indian management team seemed relaxed after talking to one of the most experienced curators in the circuit. Eden Gardens pitch on Tuesday (PTI Photo)
During the IPL 2025 season, Kolkata Knight Riders were open about their disagreements with the curator when the pitch at Eden Gardens did not favor their strength – the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine – and instead were ready to help the high score.
However, the chief curator has made it clear that the pitch will help the turnaround while remaining a sporting wicket with a good chance of the Test lasting all five days.
Sujan Mukherjee’s comments came just days after former captain and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly said that The Eden Gardens pitch would not be revolutionary.
India have four spinners in their ranks – Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Meanwhile, South Africa arrived in India after a memorable tour of Pakistan where their spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer played a big role in securing a 1-1 draw. With diversity in their ranks, South Africa will be confident of troubling the young Indian batting line-up with their spin attack.
While the focus was on the field, the Indian players toiled hard in Tuesday’s optional training session. Captain Shubman Gill, who landed in the city on Sunday evening, batted for nearly 90 minutes alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah also had a solid session and was closely monitored by Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
November 11, 2025
