Bengal cricket boss Sourav Ganguly shares huge update on Eden Gardens pitch for 1st IND vs SA Test: 'It looks...'

Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that the Indian team management has not requested a rank turner for the first Test against South Africa, starting Friday at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens. India head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak inspected the pitch on Monday morning, with Ganguly later describing it as “a very good one.”

“Well, they haven’t asked for it yet. So, I won’t be able to answer the question. It looks a very good one,” Ganguly told reporters after examining the surface in the evening. The pitch square was later covered to protect it from dew or unexpected showers ahead of the opening Test against the reigning World Test Champions.

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Eden Gardens curator on the pitch

CAB chief curator Sujan Mukherjee said the pitch has not been watered since Saturday but remains in good condition. He added that Gambhir was “happy to see the wicket” and had asked when it might start assisting spinners, to which he told him, “from day three.” Mukherjee said that the wicket will be a “good sporting one” with something in it for both batters and bowlers.

"It's going to be a good sporting wicket with help for both batters and bowlers. There will be assistance on offer for the spinners as well, and that can happen early as well,” Mukherjee said.

Traditionally, the Eden pitch offers movement in the first hour before easing out for batting and later providing turn as the match progresses. The Shubman Gill-led side is expected to maintain the balance between pace and spin, especially after India’s past struggles on turning tracks and their defeat to New Zealand in a home Test series last year.

The Eden Gardens has hosted two Ranji Trophy matches so far this season, and the tracks have played on the slower side, offering little assistance to pacers. The pace-heavy Bengal attack found it tough to make inroads against Uttarakhand on the opening day of their fixture before Mohammed Shami's magical spell turned around Bengal's fortunes.

The last Test here was India’s first-ever day-night Test against Bangladesh in November 2019. Meanwhile, the CAB is planning to make the occasion memorable. Ganguly has said that tickets are sold out and they are expecting a full-house. To commemorate the historic series, a special coin featuring Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela on either side has been minted for the toss, said Ganguly.

(With agency inputs)