IND vs SA: Harbhajan Singh slams Eden Gardens pitch, calls it "Mockery of test cricket"

15 wickets fell on day two of the first IND vs SA test in Kolkata.

The first test between India and South Africa, which is being played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, started on November 14, has progressed way faster than expected. At one stage, it appeared as the game would end during the final session on Day 2.

On an Eden Gardens field that offered incredible spin, South Africa’s batters struggled. Temba Bavuma had won the toss and chose to bat first. However, Jasprit Bumrah’s 5/27 and two wickets each by Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav routed South Africa for 159 runs in the first innings.

The ball turned and bounced unevenly from day one. The same happened when India batted in their first innings, scoring 189 runs as the visiting spinner Simon Harmer took four wickets, while Marco Jansen took three scalps for South Africa.

With 30 runs in deficit, South Africa began their second innings confidently, but once again the venomous pitch came into play, and the Proteas were reduced to 93/7, with Ravindra Jadeja being the hero with four wickets and Kuldeep Yadav taking two wickets, as the visitors lead by 63 runs.

Harbhajan Singh unhappy with the pitch in Kolkata; Michael Vaughan joins in bashing the surface

India’s great spinner Harbhajan Singh was shocked at the turn of events. Harbhajan Singh himself was put on the test map at Kolkata, when he picked 13 wickets in all, including the first-ever hat-trick for India in tests.

However, Harbhajan Singh couldn’t be more disgusted at seeing the first test between India and South Africa almost getting over by the end of day two, and stated that test cricket is dead.

“Test cricket India vs South Africa—the game almost over on Day 2 isn’t finished yet. What a mockery of Test cricket #RIPTESTCRICKET,” Harbhajan Singh wrote on X.

Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan also joined him in bashing the Eden Gardens pitch.

“Awful pitch in Kolkata … #INDvSA,” the ex-England captain stated.

Only KL Rahul’s 39 off 119 balls—the highest individual score of the match thus far—came close to test-match resilience. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma tried a similar feat, scoring an unbroken 29 as the Proteas clung on in rapidly dwindling light, with Corbin Bosch joining him on one.

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