Eden Gardens grounds curator Sujan Mukherjee defended the surface after the opening Test between India and South Africa ended in two days with India losing by 30 runs chasing 124. Bowled out for 93, this was India’s first under 100 fourth innings total at home.
Amid strong criticism and calls for the venue to be bannedMukherjee insisted the pitch was not substandard and said he was simply following instructions. He added that he knows how to prepare the right test surface and puts his heart and soul into the work.
“This pitch is not bad at all,” Mukherjee said in an interview with Times Now Bangla.
“I know everyone is questioning this pitch. Honestly, I know how to prepare the pitch for a Test. That’s exactly what I did. I did it as per instructions. I don’t think about what others say. Not everyone knows everything. So I do my job with dedication and want to continue to do so in future,” added Mukherjee.
GANGULY ADVISES GAMBHIR
Head coach Gautam Gambhir said after India’s defeat in Kolkata The Eden Gardens pitch was exactly what the team requiredadds that batsmen must learn to adapt to the conditions.
Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly echoed this sentiment, saying that the surface was prepared as per the instructions of the Indian team. He added that India should field a good pitch and trust their pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
“Yes, that’s right – the instructions have been given and I’m just repeating what I said earlier. I like Gautam a lot; he’s done well for India in England, in ODIs, in T20 cricket. We’ll continue for a while, but we have to play on good pitches,” Ganguly told India Today.
“They have to have faith in Bumrah, Siraj and Shami. Spinners who win Test matches for them. Win Test matches in five days, not three days,” Ganguly said.
India will look to bounce back when the second Test begins on November 22 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
November 17, 2025
