Following India’s humiliating 30-run defeat in the Kolkata Test, a heated debate has erupted over the Eden Gardens pitch. Amidst this controversy, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly has given clear answers to all questions and revealed the entire pitch preparation process. The nature of the pitch was debatable. Despite a rank turner, India could have won the match. But it was South Africa who had the last laugh in Kolkata.
Saurav Ganguly issued statement
Ganguly clearly stated that he or the CAB had no involvement in the pitch preparation. The BCCI’s own curators take charge of the pitch four days before the start of a Test match. Speaking to India Today, he said, “I have no involvement in these matters at all. The BCCI’s curator team takes complete control four days in advance. Our own curator, Sujan Mukherjee, has been doing a great job for the past several years. The team management tells us their needs, and the pitch is prepared accordingly; that’s the process.”
Ganguly was also forthright in his assessment. He admitted that the pitch did not live up to expectations and insisted that the Indian batting order should have been provided with a better surface. He said, “I must admit that the pitch was not very good. The top order and middle order deserved a better wicket. Eden Gardens was packed for all three days, and I really feel that Gautam Gambhir and his team should have played on a much better pitch than the one they got.”
Curator Sujan Mukherjee also confirmed that they prepared the pitch that the team management had requested. He said, “Sometimes things are beyond our control, but we always try to follow the instructions of the captain and coach. Gautam Gambhir himself said after the match that he wanted a pitch like this, and that’s what we prepared.”