'Mockery of Test cricket': Harbhajan Singh slams Eden Gardens pitch
What's the story
The ongoing Test match between India and South Africa in Kolkata is nearing its conclusion, with the Proteas at 93/7 and leading by just 63 runs in the second innings. The pitch at Eden Gardens has come under fire for being nearly unplayable, drawing criticism from former players like Harbhajan Singh and Michael Vaughan. The match is likely to conclude in the first session on Day 3 due to the conditions.
Criticism
Harbhajan Singh criticizes pitch conditions
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan didn't hold back in his criticism of the Kolkata pitch. He took to X and wrote, "Test cricket India vs South Africa the game almost over on 2nd day isn't finished yet. What a mockery of Test cricket #RIPTESTCRICKET." Former England captain Michael Vaughan also slammed the pitch for its poor quality.
Performance
15 wickets fall on Day 2
A magical spell from star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has seemingly put India on the verge of a massive win in the ongoing Test series opener. His four-wicket haul meant SA, in their second innings, were 93/7 at stumps on Day 2. As they lead by just 63 runs, India look all set to prevail on Day 3. As many as 15 wickets fell on Day 2.
Do you know?
Most Test wickets at Eden Gardens
According to ESPNcricinfo, Harbhajan is the highest wicket-taker at Eden Gardens in Test cricket. He took 46 wickets from just seven Tests at an incredible average of 21.76 on this ground. This includes a historic hat-trick from the 2001 Test against Australia.
Defense
Ashwin defends pitch conditions amid criticism
Ravichandran Ashwin defended the pitch conditions, blaming batting technique instead of the surface for the struggles. He pointed to Temba Bavuma's resilience as an example of how one could adapt to these challenging conditions. The debate over Eden Gardens surface is likely to continue as the Test match enters its final phase, with more focus on how these conditions influenced play rather than just cricket itself.