India’s defeat to South Africa in the Kolkata Test has triggered several major questions, especially after the match ended in just three days with a 30-run loss. Many critics pointed fingers at the Eden Gardens pitch, questioning whether spin is still India’s biggest weapon and whether the team should stop preparing turning tracks altogether. However, Cricket Association of Bengal President Sourav Ganguly dismissed these concerns and instead offered a powerful piece of advice to the Indian team.

Ganguly made it clear that the Eden pitch was exactly what Team India had requested. He added that the management must stop over-manipulating pitches to gain a home advantage. According to him, pitches should be balanced—ones where both batsmen and bowlers can perform and where teams can potentially score 350 or more while still allowing bowlers opportunities to take wickets. His message was simple: “Don’t mess with the pitch, just play.”

In a sharp remark that caught everyone’s attention, Ganguly added, “I hope Gautam Gambhir is listening.” He advised the coach to trust India’s pace attack rather than depend on spinning tracks. With Bumrah and Siraj already performing brilliantly, Ganguly emphasized that Mohammed Shami should also be brought back into the side. Shami, he said, has the match-winning ability India needs—and avoiding him in favour of spin-focused pitches makes little sense. His comments clearly hinted at his dissatisfaction with the team’s tendency to demand specially prepared surfaces.

Gautam Gambhir, speaking at the post-match press conference, defended the pitch by saying it was exactly as the team had wanted and that the curator had been very cooperative. He added that India simply did not play well, insisting that the pitch had no problem since a target of 124 was absolutely chaseable.

However, despite Gambhir’s defence, comparisons have already begun with the 2024 series against New Zealand, where India’s preference for a spin-heavy pitch also backfired.