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Former India captain Sourav Ganguly admitted it wasn't the best of pitches, but insisted the track was prepared at the request of the Indian cricket team as he reacted to the row over the track at the Eden Gardens, which was used for the first Test between India and South Africa. India's spin woes were exposed once again on a rank turner as the Proteas thrashed the hosts by 30 runs to win the 1st Test and take 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
India suffered a spectacular batting collapse in their second innings as the hosts folded for a paltry 93 runs while chasing 124 runs. India were without their skipper Shubman Gill in the second innings after he was ruled out of action due to a neck injury. The hosts lacked application on a difficult track and struggled to tackle sharp turn as they succumbed under pressure in the run chase.
The pitch at the Eden Gardens came under the scanner after a staggering 26 wickets fell inside the first two days of the Test match. However, reacting to the controversy, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president, Ganguly said the pitch was prepared to suit the Indian team's request.
Ganguly, who had earlier revealed the curator had been told to not water the pitch four days before the start of the Test match, admitted it was not the perfect wicket for Test cricket. However, Ganguly said the curator did what the Indian team requested. The former India captain also insisted the target of 124 runs should have been chased down by the hosts.
“There is no controversy. It was not the best Test wicket, but unfortunately India lost. And they still should have got 120. It wasn’t the greatest of Test pitch. Gambhir said they wanted such a pitch and that they themselves instructed the curator," Ganguly was quoted as saying by India Today after India's defeat in the first Test.
Ganguly praised India head coach Gautam Gambhir for the work he has done since taking over from Rahul Dravid as the team's head coach last year. However, the former India captain said India should focus on balance and trusting the team's strengths, advising Gambhir to play on good pitches.
"Yes, that is true — instructions were given, and I’ll just repeat what I said earlier. I am very fond of Gautam; he has done well for India in England, in ODIs, in T20 cricket. We will continue for a while, but we must play on good pitches," added the former India captain.
Ganguly also urged the Indian team management to consider recalling senior pacer Mohammed Shami in the Test squad. Shami, who has been ignored from the Indian Test setup owing to fitness concerns, has been doing well for Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26. Ganguly said India should trust their premier pacers and spinners in Tests. He also shared some advice for Gambhir regarding his tactics in Test cricket.
"He must have faith in Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami. Spinners, who win Test matches for them. Win Test matches in five days, not three days," said Ganguly.
Earlier, the likes of former India spinner Harbhajan Singh and ex-England captain Michael Vaughan criticised the pitch at the Eden Gardens, where the ball turned viciously from Day 1. Harbhajan said even the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli would have struggled on such a wicket as the batters had no idea where the ball was turning after landing.
However, despite criticism from all corners, India head coach Gambhir defended the pitch curator at the Eden Gardens and said the track was exactly what India had asked for. Gambhir said his batters lacked application and that the target of 124 runs was chaseable if the Indian players defended well against the South African bowlers.
