ICC Clears Eden Gardens Pitch After Chaotic India-SA Test

The pitch at Eden Gardens has avoided disciplinary action after the International Cricket Council delivered a “satisfactory” rating for the India-South Africa Test played last month in Kolkata.

Match referee Richie Richardson filed the assessment, placing the surface in the second tier of the ICC’s four-point scale. That verdict sits below “very good” but safely above the danger zones of “unsatisfactory” and “unfit.” In simple terms, the ground walks away without a warning or demerit point.

Recent pitch scrutiny across international cricket has been intense, especially after the Melbourne Cricket Ground received an unsatisfactory rating for its Boxing Day Test surface. Against that backdrop, Eden Gardens had plenty riding on the decision.

A Test Ruled By The Surface

From the opening over, the Kolkata pitch behaved on its own terms. The ball climbed awkwardly, then dipped low without warning, and batters never settled. Bowlers, sensing vulnerability, kept probing.

Offspinner Simon Harmer extracted a sharp turn as the match wore on, while left-arm quick Marco Jansen struck with bounce that hurried even set batters. India responded through Jasprit Bumrah, whose five-wicket haul on day one briefly tilted the contest.

Still, totals told the story. Neither side crossed 200 in any innings. India’s final chase of 124 never looked secure and ended at 93, sealing a South African win well inside the scheduled time.

Voices Split Inside The Camp

India head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the surface after the match, calling it exactly what the team wanted. Days later, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak offered a different take.

Kotak suggested the uneven bounce caught players off guard and said the earlier comments were aimed at shielding curator Sujan Mukherjee rather than endorsing the pitch behaviour. That contrast only sharpened discussion around preparation and intent.

ICC Verdict And What Follows

The ICC’s rating closes the chapter, at least officially, and a “satisfactory” tag signals concerns were noted but not severe enough to warrant action. Eden Gardens remains clear to host future Tests without conditions attached.

The next match of the series, played in Guwahati, unfolded on a truer surface, though South Africa still prevailed to complete a 2–0 sweep.

The pitch passed inspection, yet the scrutiny will linger. In modern cricket, surfaces are judged as closely as players, and one challenging Test can echo long after the stumps are pulled out.