IND vs SA: No rank turner requested by India for Eden Gardens opener, says Ganguly

Former Indian skipper and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly has revealed that no rank turner has been requested for the opening Test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, against South Africa. 

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak inspected the track on Monday. Ganguly also had a look at the surface before it was covered by the ground staff.

“Well, they haven’t asked for it yet. So I won’t be able to answer the question,” Ganguly said when asked whether India had specifically sought a turning track. “It looks a very good wicket.”

Meanwhile, Eden Gardens has thus far hosted two Ranji Trophy games and the tracks were on the slow side. CAB curator Sujan Mukherjee said it is going to be a good sporting wicket.

“It’s going to be a good sporting wicket with help for both batters and bowlers,” he said.

India has quality spinners like Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad, and the spinners are expected to do the bulk of the work. Kuldeep had scalped 12 wickets in two Test matches against the West Indies, whereas Jadeja had bagged eight wickets in the series.

On the other hand, South Africa’s spin bowling line-up will be led by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, supported by off-spinner Simon Harmer and left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy.

Earlier, in 2024, India had prepared rank turners in the three-match Test series against New Zealand, and that decision had backfired as the hosts had suffered a 3-0 loss.

The opening Test match between India and South Africa will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, from November 14 onwards.