Ravichandran Ashwin criticizes Eden Gardens pitch after India’s first Test loss to South Africa. Ashwin calls for designated Test centres and explains why the wicket failed to deliver.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his candid opinion on the highly debated pitch at Eden Gardens following India’s defeat in the first Test against South Africa. The loss has sparked discussions among fans and experts regarding the nature of the wicket and its suitability for Test cricket.
The first match of the ongoing multi-format series saw South Africa secure a convincing win, taking a 1-0 lead. While the Proteas displayed resilience and strategic gameplay across three days, the pitch at Eden Gardens quickly became the centre of controversy. Critics argued that it was far from ideal for Test cricket.
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Ravichandran Ashwin Clarifies Misconceptions About the Eden Gardens Pitch
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin addressed the criticism surrounding the surface. “I want to clear one thing up: this is not a turning pitch. It is simply a bad wicket. A true turner, like the red soil wickets in Mumbai, provides consistent spin and bounce. It’s difficult to find such pitches all over India, especially in the eastern regions,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained.
Ravichandran Ashwin further added, “The main problem with such underprepared wickets is that batters cannot trust the bounce or pace, making it challenging to play proper shots. I also want to take my hat off to Temba Bavuma, not just for scoring a fifty, but for showing that this pitch didn’t have as many demons as people expected.”
Advocating for Designated Test Centres
Ravichandran Ashwin also highlighted the need for designated Test venues across India to ensure consistency in playing conditions. “We should have 5 to 8 proper Test centres in the country. This way, players can understand how the pitch will behave, and the home team can plan accordingly. Eden Gardens is a historic venue, the crowd support was phenomenal, but as a home team, you should know what kind of results to expect from this pitch within a given number of days,” Ashwin said.
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