According to Sourav Ganguly, acting president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), the Indian side did not ask specifically for a dust-heavy, spin-dominated surface ahead of the first Test against South Africa national cricket team at the Eden Gardens.
He revealed that, while the wicket had been used for earlier Ranji Trophy games and showed signs of being slow, the team’s primary objective wasn’t to engineer a pitch that “turns square from Day 1.” Instead, Ganguly emphasised the team’s preference to play on a balanced playing surface that rewards both bat and ball over the full five days.
A Surface Built for Challenge, Not a Spin-Trap
The curator at Eden Gardens noted that while the pitch had limited seam assistance, it was still designed in such a way that spinners might come into the game from around Day 3 onwards — rather than being handed the match on a platter early.
Ganguly stressed this setup made more strategic sense: you “win a Test match in five days… you still won a Test match,” he said, arguing that a throw-away three-day finish via a sharp turner didn’t advance India’s long-term goals. Instead of catering purely to spin, the challenge of coping with a wicket that evolves over time was seen as more beneficial for the team’s development.
Long-Term View: Preparing for Any Condition
Ganguly’s comments also underline a wider philosophy: India’s strength lies in being adaptable, not overly reliant on match conditions designed purely to exploit spinning strength. “When I see Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Mukesh bowl… I wonder why do we need to prepare turning tracks in India… my conviction of playing on good wickets keeps getting stronger every game,” he wrote on social media. He added, “They will get 20 wickets on any surface with Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep and Axar… batting quality dropping because of pitches in last 6-7 yrs at home… good wickets are a must… India will still win over five days.” The message is clear: India want surfaces that challenge all disciplines, not ones that skew the contest.
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