BCCI Curators Take Control of Eden Gardens Pitch
Former Indian cricket captain and current Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly has made startling revelations about the pitch preparation for the recently concluded first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens. The match ended within three days, sparking widespread discussion about the quality of the playing surface.
Ganguly disclosed that curators from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) assumed control of the wicket preparation four days before the Test match began. This development came despite Eden Gardens having its own experienced curator, Sujan Mukherjee, who has served the venue exceptionally well for many years.
Ganguly's Frank Admission About Pitch Quality
In a candid conversation with India Today, Ganguly didn't mince words when assessing the pitch quality. "It was not the greatest, I'll have to completely admit, and I think the top-order batting, the middle-order batting, you know, deserves a better cricketing surface," the CAB president stated.
Ganguly emphasized that despite the pitch issues, the Eden Gardens witnessed a full house for all three days of the Test match. He expressed his belief that Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team deserve to play on much better wickets than what was provided at the iconic Kolkata venue.
The former Indian skipper referenced the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series in England, where Indian batsmen scored runs and bowlers took wickets on good surfaces. He suggested that the current Indian team needs to be patient and trust their bowling attack, which has proven capable of taking 20 wickets in overseas conditions.
Contrasting Views: Gambhir's Perspective
Interestingly, Indian Head Coach Gautam Gambhir had expressed satisfaction with the pitch following India's defeat to South Africa. After the team failed to chase a modest target of 124 runs in the fourth innings, Gambhir stated, "This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. And I feel that the curator was very, very helpful. This is exactly what we wanted, and this is exactly what we got."
Gambhir's comments came after the match concluded on November 19, 2025, with the Indian team collapsing dramatically in their second innings. The contrasting opinions between the CAB president and the Indian coach highlight the ongoing debate about pitch preparation in Test cricket.
Ganguly's revelation about BCCI curators taking over pitch preparation four days before the match raises important questions about the autonomy of local curators and the centralization of pitch preparation in Indian cricket. The incident at Eden Gardens has sparked discussions about finding the right balance between producing result-oriented pitches and maintaining the quality that Test cricket deserves.
