'This was what Gambhir's Team wanted': Ganguly on Kolkata Test pitch controversy

The archetypal Test betwixt India and South Africa astatine Eden Gardens ended successful a melodramatic 30-run decision for India, who were bowled retired for 93/9 portion chasing a humble people of 124. Shubman Gill was incapable to bat owed to injury, adding to the hosts’ woes.

Beyond the result, the lucifer has sparked a heated statement implicit the pitch, which seemed to crumble nether unit and threatened to decorativeness successful little than 3 days. Former India skipper and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly has present enactment the spotlight connected the Indian squad itself. According to him, the transportation was prepared according to the Indian camp’s preferences, and Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee should not beryllium blamed for its accelerated deterioration. Ganguly besides revealed that the aboveground had not been watered for 4 days earlier the commencement of the Test, which contributed to its unpredictable behaviour.

“The transportation is what the Indian campy wanted. This is what happens erstwhile you don’t h2o the transportation for 4 days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can’t beryllium blamed,” Ganguly told News18 Bangla. The antithetic quality of the wicket drew reactions from respective erstwhile players. Ex-India wicket-keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said the pitch’s aboriginal breakdown was owed to it not being watered the nighttime earlier the match. South Africa’s erstwhile pacer Vernon Philander, however, urged absorption connected the players alternatively than the pitch, stressing that adapting to conditions is the essence of Test cricket.

Batting manager Ashwell Prince admitted the aboveground eroded the batters’ confidence, saying, “You can’t perpetrate to a changeable erstwhile the shot shoots oregon stays debased randomly.” Former spinner Harbhajan Singh besides criticised the pitch, informing that specified surfaces endanger the aboriginal of the longest format. “If we support serving this, Test cricket won’t request opponents to die: we’ll termination it ourselves,” helium said connected his YouTube channel. With the ICC apt to complaint Eden Gardens arsenic “poor” and perchance manus demerit points, the contention surrounding the Kolkata wicket continues, raising questions astir transportation mentation and its interaction connected the integrity of Test cricket.