The team's subsequent 30-run loss on a difficult pitch has sparked criticism from Sourav Ganguly and raised concerns over India's recent home record. (Image: X)
IND vs SA: In the wake of a shocking 30-run defeat to South Africa, the Indian cricket team faces a dual challenge: the recovery of their captain and a fierce debate over the pitch that led to their downfall. As Shubman Gill left the hospital, former captain Sourav Ganguly delivered a strong critique of the playing conditions at Eden Gardens.
India's Test captain, Shubman Gill, has been discharged from the Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital in Kolkata. He was receiving treatment for a neck injury sustained while batting on the second day of the first Test against South Africa. The injury was severe enough to rule him out of the remainder of the match before the start of the third day's play. His absence was keenly felt as India, without their skipper, collapsed in the second innings. The team management has not yet decided if he will be fit to lead the side in the second and final Test in Guwahati, which begins on November 22.
Sourav Ganguly, the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), did not mince words when assessing the Eden Gardens pitch. He explicitly called it "not the best Test wicket" and stated that it "wasn't the greatest Test pitch." He confirmed that the Indian team management, under head coach Gautam Gambhir, had given instructions to the curator to prepare such a surface. Despite the difficult conditions, Ganguly believed India should have chased down the modest target of 124 runs. He emphasized the need for "good pitches" for the health of Test cricket.
Apart from the pitch debate, Ganguly offered key guidance to the Indian team. He emphasized trusting senior players, singling out veteran pacer Mohammed Shami as someone who should never be overlooked. He also urged a change in strategy, saying the team must “win Test matches in five days, not three.” His remark reflects rising worries over games ending too quickly on overly difficult pitches, which goes against the spirit of the five-day format.
This loss carries major implications. It is India’s fourth defeat at home in their last six Tests—an alarming trend for a team usually unbeatable on home soil. Coming after a 0-3 setback in New Zealand, it has revived questions about whether India’s batters can truly handle turning pitches. With the captain injured, a disputed surface, and mounting home losses, the team now faces a serious test of resilience and strategy as they head to Guwahati to try and level the series.
