Sourav Ganguly has cleared the air about pitch preparations for the opening Test between India and South Africa starting Friday at Eden Gardens. The Cricket Association of Bengal president confirmed that India’s team management has not requested a rank turner, dispelling speculation about extreme conditions.​

No Special Requests

“Well, they haven’t asked for it yet. So I won’t be able to answer the question. It looks a very good wicket,” Ganguly told PTI when asked if India had specifically sought a turning track.​

The clarification comes after head coach Gautam Gambhir inspected the Eden Gardens pitch on Monday morning alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. Ganguly also examined the wicket later in the day before ground staff covered the entire square to protect it from dew and any unexpected rain.​

Curator’s Assessment

CAB curator Sujan Mukherjee expressed satisfaction with the pitch’s preparation, stating that Gambhir appeared “happy to see the wicket” during his inspection. When Gambhir enquired when the surface might begin offering turn, Mukherjee informed him that spinners could come into play from day three.​

“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.​

Eden’s Traditional Behavior

Historically, the Eden Gardens wicket doesn’t produce excessive spin from the outset. It typically provides slight movement in the first hour before settling into a batting-friendly surface, though assistance for spinners can arrive earlier depending on weather and wear.​

The venue has hosted two Ranji Trophy matches this season, with tracks playing on the slower side and offering limited early assistance for fast bowlers. Bengal’s pace-led attack initially struggled against Uttarakhand before Mohammed Shami’s magical spell turned the game around.​

Concerns Surface

Despite the official line, reports suggest the team management may have concerns. According to PTI, when Shubman Gill and Gambhir inspected the pitch on Tuesday, they didn’t appear entirely satisfied. The surface appeared dry and brown with minimal grass cover, having been left unwatered for nearly a week.​

Gill summoned Mukherjee for a 15-minute discussion, reportedly to understand how the wicket would behave once the match begins. Mukherjee later revealed that India, like any home team, asked for “a bit of turn” but nothing excessive.​

South Africa’s Spin Strength

The speculation around pitch conditions intensified given South Africa’s experienced spin attack. The reigning World Test Champions will arrive with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj leading a trio that includes off-spinner Simon Harmer and left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy.​

This unit impressed during their recent drawn 1-1 Test series against Pakistan, taking 33 wickets between them. Muthusamy also contributed 106 runs and was named Player of the Series.​

Learning from Past Mistakes

India remains mindful of last year’s defeat to New Zealand in Pune, where Mitchell Santner’s 13-wicket haul powered the Black Caps to their first-ever Test series win on Indian soil. That experience likely influences how India approaches pitch preparation now.​

First Test in Six Years

This marks Eden Gardens’ first Test in six years, with the previous one being India’s inaugural day-night Test against Bangladesh in November 2019. The CAB has planned several initiatives to make the occasion memorable.​

Ticket sales have been strong, with Ganguly confirming that 34,000 tickets have already been sold, particularly for the first three days. The Dalmiya Memorial Lecture will be held on the eve of the match, featuring Sunil Gavaskar as keynote speaker.​

To commemorate the historic series between the two nations, a special coin featuring Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela on either side has been minted for the toss.​