Kolkata, November 17: Eden Gardens’ pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee has strongly defended the surface used for the opening Test between India and South Africa, which finished within two-and-a-half days.
Facing criticism from several corners, Mukherjee said the pitch was not “bad” and insisted he had prepared it exactly as instructed.
Mukherjee said in an interview that he fully understands how to prepare a proper Test wicket and stands by his work. According to him he puts complete dedication into pitch preparation every time.
“This pitch is not bad at all,” said Mukherjee in an interview to Times Now Bangla.
“I know everyone is questioning this pitch. Honestly, I know how to prepare a pitch for a Test. That’s exactly what I did. I did it as instructed. I don’t think about what others said. Not everyone knows everything. So I do my job with dedication, and I want to continue doing that in the future as well.”
The recently concluded Test drew attention because of the sharp turn and uneven bounce that appeared from early on. The game finished in less than two-and-a-half days, with India being bowled out for 93 in the fourth innings while chasing 124, marking their first sub-100 fourth-innings score at home.
With the defeat, India fell 0-1 behind in the series and now face the possibility of losing two home series within just over a year.
On the other hand, South Africa managed to defend what was their second-lowest successful target in Test cricket history. Spinner Simon Harmer proved decisive, scalping eight wickets in the match and breaking the Indian batting lineup.
After the loss, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that the pitch was exactly what the team had requested. He said that batters need to adjust to challenging surfaces instead of expecting ideal conditions every time.
