New Delhi: Sourav Ganguly has dismissed suggestions that Gautam Gambhir should be removed as India’s Test coach following the team’s 30-run loss to South Africa in the opening match of the series. The defeat, played on a challenging Eden Gardens surface, has raised questions about pitch preparation, team decisions and India’s recent home form. Ganguly, however, insisted that a single result should not define Gambhir’s tenure.
Reflecting on the controversy surrounding the pitch, Ganguly revealed that the surface was handled directly by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s curators days before the match. He clarified that once the BCCI team takes charge, decisions on pitch preparation are made according to the requests of the Indian team management.
He acknowledged that the pitch conditions were far from ideal and did not offer the quality expected for a high-profile Test. According to him, India’s batting lineup, from the top order to the middle, deserved a more balanced surface. The former India captain added that spectators who filled the stadium over three days also warranted a contest played on a better wicket.
Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee supported this view, stating that the local ground staff followed instructions conveyed by the national team management. He reiterated that pitch preparation often depends on the preferences of the team, coach and captain, and that the home side received the kind of pitch it had requested.
Despite the scrutiny falling on Gambhir after the narrow loss, Ganguly made it clear that there is no need for drastic decisions. He highlighted the strong performances India produced under Gambhir’s coaching and Shubman Gill’s leadership during the recent tour of England, where conditions were more favourable for batting.
Ganguly expressed confidence that the current coaching setup can deliver consistent results in India as well, provided the team plays on better wickets. He maintained that the combination of Gambhir and Gill remains capable of guiding India effectively through upcoming challenges.
