With only few days to go, Shubman Gill’s young Test side is ready to begin its first red-ball assignment on home soil against South Africa at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Traditionally, Indian teams have enjoyed a home advantage in Test series, but that pattern broke in the last home series against New Zealand.
Now, with coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Gill at the helm, the hosts are eager to reclaim their fortress.
A Historic Venue with a New Challenge
Eden Gardens, India’s oldest Test venue, carries a legacy that few stadiums in the world can match. Its pitch has often been a talking point, and this time, according to curator Sujan Mukherjee, the surface could slightly favour the home side.
With the advent of T20 cricket, Test cricket faces challenges. Spectators find it difficult to commit to a five-day game. When preparing the pitch, I try to balance the needs of both teams and the crowd. Ideally, this match should last the full five days.
On Tuesday morning, both teams’ players and coaches inspected the pitch and exchanged thoughts with the curator.
Curator Confident: ‘India Will Have Advantage’
Mukherjee confirmed that the Indian management is happy with the surface.
Gautam Gambhir, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and skipper Shubman Gill are content with the pitch. The team wanted a track that offers some turn, and India has a strong spin attack with Jadeja, Axar, Kuldeep and Sundar, all capable of changing the course of the match.
However, Mukherjee clarified that the surface will not be a “rank turner” like the one seen during the series against New Zealand.
“I’ve left a bit of grass to help the pacers early on. My priority is the country, so I’ve prepared the wicket according to the team’s specifications,” he added.
Lessons From the Past
During New Zealand’s 2024 tour of India, the hosts struggled against left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who repeatedly troubled Indian batters. Mukherjee is aware of that history but believes conditions this time will provide a fair contest.
South Africa also have quality pacers and spinners. They’ve just played in Pakistan and gained valuable experience on Asian pitches. Their Test team is in good form, so we can expect a close contest.
‘A Good Pitch Rewards Good Batting’
Mukherjee concluded with optimism that the wicket would offer opportunities to both sides.
If our batsmen apply themselves, the Eden Gardens pitch will surely reward their efforts.
With Eden’s rich legacy, a young captain in charge, and a curator confident of balance, Kolkata is set to host a classic five-day contest between two proud cricketing nations.
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