Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly has come to the defence of the pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee after the Eden Gardens pitch has come under the scanner after 26 wickets fell in the first two days of the first Test between India and South Africa.
Test cricket’s return to Kolkata has been far from ideal as a lot of questions have been raised in regards to the pitch.
Right from the start of the Test match, the pitch showed signs of variable bounce and definite turn for the spinners. Ball dominated the proceedings on both days. Jasprit Bumrah bagged a five-wicket haul after which the spinners from both sides ran riot on a fast deteriorating Eden Gardens pitch. With pitch in question, Sujan has come under the firing line.
Amid criticism from various corners, Ganguly made a sensational revelation by saying that the Indian team wanted that type of pitch.
“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 told News18 Bangla.
After being opted to bat first, South Africa were bundled out for 159. The home team also struggled on an inconsistent pitch as they were also bowled out for 189. The second day of the match also saw South Africa losing seven wickets for 93 runs. Temba Bavuma’s fighting fifty propelled them to 153, setting India a target of 124 in the fourth innings.
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