Indian Team Management Not Seeking Rank Turner At Eden Gardens For Kolkata Test Against South Africa: Sourav Ganguly

India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Kolkata Test: The Indian team management has not asked for a rank turner for the opening Test of the two-match series against South Africa beginning at the Eden Gardens on Friday, Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said on Monday.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who arrived late on Sunday along with members of the team that played the white-ball series in Australia, inspected the Eden pitch on Monday morning along with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.

Ganguly, too, had a look at the wicket later in the evening after which the entire square was covered to protect it from dew or any unlikely showers.

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"Well, they haven't asked for it yet. So, I won't be able to answer the question. It looks a very good one," Ganguly said when asked if the Indian team management had requested for a turning wicket.

The Eden Gardens has hosted two Ranji Trophy matches so far this season, and the tracks have played on the slower side, offering little assistance to pacers.

The pace-heavy Bengal attack found it tough to make inroads against Uttarakhand on the opening day of their fixture before Mohammed Shami's magical spell turned around Bengal's fortunes.

The pitch, incidentally, has not been watered since Saturday, but CAB curator Sujan Mukherjee expressed satisfaction with its preparation. He said Gambhir was also "happy to see the wicket" during his inspection.

According to Mukherjee, the Indian head coach had enquired when the pitch might start assisting spinners, and he responded that turn could be expected "from day three."

Historically, too, Eden has never been a rank-turner and becomes batting-friendly after offering some assistance in the first hour's play.

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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.

With the Eden Gardens hosting a Test match after six years, the host association also would not like to take chances. The last Test here was India's first-ever day-night Test against Bangladesh in November 2019.