Gargi Raut in Eden Gardens
Match day -2s are always chaotic during Test matches, not so much for the teams, they just go about their routine mandatory practice. But journalists and those covering the game know its importance. A full-fledged practice session, a press conference, and an opportunity to closely observe the net session to get a hint of the likely XI.
It’s a day of staying on top of your toes and putting your best foot forward. One wrong move and it could derail the entire day’s plans. It is usually the busiest day in the press box and in the stands where the media captures the team from; a buzz of camerapersons, photographers, reporters sitting with their laptops and wild fans popping in and out once or twice.
While the entire media is capturing the team—the closeups, the front-page worthy shots and the next best headline, no one is capturing the media. An old Fujifilm camera, and an ambition to capture the ones never captured brought to life an old school, yet chaotic film reel. The day started out early, with South Africa taking on the field first. So the photographers had already taken their places early in the morning to catch every glimpse of the players.
Proteas’ practice session was followed by a press conference with Ryan ten Doeschate and a full-strength Indian squad practice which only meant chaos for everyone involved. As the bus rolled in and the fans roared, the photographers stood still, lenses ready and best positions taken.
While most of us spend the days going up and down from the press box to the stands, ensuring all devices are charged, all pieces written and all videos recorded, there are some who are truly dedicated to taking care of the ones usually ignored. At the Eden, workers from the canteen will go up to everyone buried in their laptops or cameras in the stands and hand them a water bottle from time to time. Every couple hours, the one shiny silverware will make an entry into the stands, not a trophy but an old-school silver tea kettle.
No superstar will be able to turn as many heads as the sound of the canteen man pouring tea into a disposable cup would. It’s a sound that journalists live for. It doesn’t matter if you’re a coffee or a tea person, when this man walks by, you will be physically incapable of saying no to the freshly brewed tea in a knock off “Nescaff” cup.
As the sun set over the Eden stands, my Fujifilm had seen it all – the frenzy, the fatigue and the fleeting moments no one else looked at. The day starts with the players, but ends with those who make the players’ stories come alive. Rarely does anyone ever capture the capturers, but for today, they were the frame.
Follow Revsportz for latest sports news
You might also like
🚨UPDATE🚨
Pitch drama unfolds at Eden Gardens. What was the chat between the Indian management and the pitch curator?
Ryan Ten Doeschate hints at the Playing XI. Jurel in. Three spinners.@ssen_co @debasissen @gargiraut15 #IndvsSA #EdenGardens pic.twitter.com/skR6SgHkde
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) November 12, 2025