Kolkata could see both teams’ pacers reach another gear as conditions could weaponise India, South Africa quicks.
The question to ask the curator before a Test match on an Indian pitch is not if it will turn, but rather when. In most venues, spin is a given.
This is definitely also true at Eden Gardens, where the first Test, which begins on Friday, is expected to see three-spinner attacks from both South Africa and India.
However, based on all pre-match indications and the uniform, straw-colored appearance it had two days prior to the game, this Kolkata field appears to be one that will only truly begin to turn on day three or so, and potentially later given the warm weather the city is now having. All indications point to a traditional Eden Gardens surface with the possibility for large first-innings totals, which will need a lot of effort from both the fast bowlers and the spinners.
“I think, just from the early looks at the wicket, it looks a good wicket that should spin later,” India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Wednesday. “So yes, it’s not just going to be about the spin.
“But certainly, we are going to be relying a lot on our seamers to make early inroads in the first couple of days. And I guess that’s what you want from a really good Test wicket, where it’s not just reliant on one of the facets being too important to the game. But I do think spin is going to be important on this pitch in the long run.”
In the short term, both captains may view the quicks as assault weapons on days one and two, to be unleashed when circumstances allow for brief windows of assistance. In Kolkata, the air from the Hooghly, which is just a short distance past the open stands to the northwest of the stadium, usually helps the new ball swing. Early dampness from the pitch sweating under the covers may be present during the first sessions. Given the practice pitches on the outfield and their roughening effect on the ball, reverse-swing is a possibility.
Eden Gardens is arguably the fastest venue in India. It boasts the best fast-bowling average (27.44, with Bengaluru next-best at 30.04) and strike rate (47.1, with Bengaluru again next-best at 53.6) among all the Indian grounds that have played host to at least five Test matches since the beginning of 2010. Additionally, fast bowlers have claimed 19.14 wickets per Test here, a substantial improvement over Mohali’s second-place 13.80.
The 2025 Eden Gardens pitch will not resemble those pitches at all, nor will it function similarly. However, considering how frequently fast bowlers have had a significant effect even on typical Kolkata surfaces, they may still be used.
Before you can spin, take care of the fast bowlers. South Africa, whom India defeated 3-0 on flat wickets that required bowlers of all stripes to put in a lot of effort, is the team that knows the most about India trips.
In many ways, South Africa appears to be in better health at the start of this series than it was in 2019–20. One of them is the breadth of their spin and pace departments, as well as the expertise that Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, and Rabada offer from both recent subcontinental trips and previous India tours.
Because of the bruises from last year’s 3-0 loss to New Zealand, they could be dangerous opponents, and India will be extremely cautious. If South Africa can catch the winds of luck and form, this series may be extremely close. And from their point of view, Kolkata is the ideal starting point.