India start favourites against South Africa as Test cricket returns to Eden Gardens

Kolkata: It has been a long time coming — a Test match at the iconic Eden Gardens — and when India and South Africa square off in the first of the two-Test series beginning today, the football-mad city of Kolkata will get the chance to see a new-look Indian cricket team in action up close and personal after — hold your breath — six years!

Barring evergreen all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, all other members of the current Indian side will be playing a Test match at the Eden Gardens for the first time. Having said that, for skipper Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir, it will be a homecoming of sorts, with the duo having been part of the IPL franchise team Kolkata Knight Riders for several years. And to add to the nostalgia, there will also be Sourav Ganguly — as the Cricket Association of Bengal President — overseeing matters over the next five days.

Following India’s final practice session yesterday, India’s 26-year-old skipper said: “I cherish a lot of memories of playing at Eden where it all started. It’s like me going to PCA (Punjab Cricket Association). It will be a much tougher series than the West Indies one. We are yet to decide on playing an extra spinner or an all-rounder — will do after one final look at the wicket tomorrow.”

Important series

Gill also weighed in on the importance of this series. “These two Test matches are very important. To play the WTC final, we need to do well here. South Africa are a strong side — they’ve won the WTC — so it won’t be easy. We know there will be difficult moments, but as a team, we’ve shown that we can handle those situations well,” he added.

Understandably, the 22 yards at the Eden Gardens has been a talking point leading into the much-anticipated Test match.

While Gill has hinted he would like pitches prepared that provide a balance between bat and ball, rather than the sharply spinning surfaces that have been prevalent in the past, South Africa’s left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj expects it to be more of a traditional sub-continent pitch. “I think it will be good wickets that will deteriorate as the game goes on — more of your traditional Test wickets from what we see,” Maharaj said.

Reflecting on India’s series win last month over West Indies, Maharaj said the wickets were good into Day 4 or 5.

“I do believe that the sort of narrative is changing. India is a wonderful team and they have come a long way with the transition,” he said. “I think they want to go with good cricket wickets, judging from the previous series.”

Pant returns

The home side will be boosted by the return of their flamboyant vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. It is expected that even with Pant in the side, back-up wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel will be included as a batsman to come in at No 6. India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate all but confirmed Jurel’s inclusion for the game during a pre-match press conference, after all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was released from the squad.

The Proteas will be buoyed by their win against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in June and the 1-1 draw in Pakistan. Under captain Temba Bavuma, they will be no pushovers despite many of their players making their debuts in India. Bavuma, opening batsman Aiden Markram and pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada have the most experience of Indian conditions.

The visitors, however, have a poor recent record in India, having lost their previous two series 3-0. Their last series win came under Hansie Cronje in 2000. With the conditions and the crowd on their side, India go in as favourites, and not just on the back of their formidable home Test record.