Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly jumped to the defence of Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee in the pitch controversy amid the ongoing IND vs SA 1st Test. The surface has been severely criticised after neither India nor South Africa were able to go past 200 runs in the contest, with wickets falling at a rapid fast pace and the contest heading towards an end on Day 3. Ganguly came down hard on the Indian team management and blamed them for such a pitch at the venue.
Ganguly blames India for pitch in IND vs SA 1st Test
Speaking to News18 Bangla, Ganguly claimed that the pitch was exactly what the Indian team management had wanted and that Eden Gardens curator cannot be blamed. The former Indian captain claimed that the surface would be that way since it wasn’t watered for four days. Several experts, including Harbhajan Singh, criticised the pitch, calling it the death of Test cricket while many are speculating that the ICC would rate the surface for the IND vs SA 1st Test as poor.
“The pitch is what the Indian camp wanted. This is what happens when you don’t water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can’t be blamed,” Ganguly said.
Batting first in the game, South Africa were bundled out for just 159 runs in their 1st innings. India, on the other hand, managed to reach just 189 runs before they were bowled out. In the first two days, 441 runs were scored across almost 3 innings. That means a wicket fell after 16.3 runs. In the 2nd innings, SA were all out for 153 runs, thereby setting a 124-run target for India. The low total will not be easy for India to chase down as only once has a 100+ total been chased down at the venue.
