Since their ignominious whitewash series defeat at the hands of New Zealand a year ago at home, India will be gearing up for their first stern test at home in the fresh ICC World Test Championship cycle, starting Friday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, facing South Africa.
The reigning WTC champions enter the series after a fine campaign in Pakistan, levelling a two-match series 1-1 even without regular captain Temba Bavuma. Despite a successful thumping of the West Indies at home last month, it remains evident that tackling high-quality spin at home has been difficult even for the senior India batters.
South Africa pose three quality spinners in the Test squad in Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy, and India will be wary of the nature of pitches they opt for in Kolkata and Guwahati, which will host its maiden Test later this month.
Gambhir satisfied with Eden pitch preps
Former India captain and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly on Monday confirmed to reporters that Shubman Gill & Co. have not requested a turning track with the venue’s chief curator, even hinting that head coach Gautam Gambhir was pleased about the nature of the pitch upon his first inspection.
“Well, they haven’t asked for it (rank turner) yet. So, I won’t be able to answer the question. It looks like a very good one,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI.
The Eden Gardens tracks have been slow and offered minimal help to fast bowlers in the two Ranji Trophy matches played there this season.
Despite not being watered since Saturday, the pitch’s preparation satisfied CAB curator Sujan Mukherjee, who noted that head coach Gambhir was also “happy to see the wicket” during his inspection. Mukherjee further revealed that when the coach asked when the track might favour spinners, he indicated that turn was expected “from day three.”
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“It’s going to be a good sporting wicket with help for both batters and bowlers. There will be assistance on offer for the spinners as well, and that can happen early as well,” Mukherjee said.
The iconic Kolkata venue will hosts its first Test in six years since India’s day-night fixture against Bangladesh in November 2019.
Ganguly reported encouraging ticket sales for the first three days, stating, “Thirty-four thousand priced tickets have been sold out as we expect a good turnout.”
