Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Harbhajan Singh Slams Eden Gardens Pitch as 'Mockery of Test Cricket'
A famous former Indian cricket player, Harbhajan Singh, is unhappy with the cricket field where India is playing South Africa.
He thinks the ground is too difficult and unfair for the players, saying that even the best batsmen in history, like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, would have trouble scoring runs.
He feels the ball is bouncing too high or staying too low, and turning too much, making it very hard to play.
Harbhajan believes this makes the game less fun and hurts the sport of Test cricket.
The South African team was all out for 153 runs in their second turn batting.
Now, the Indian team needs 123 more runs to win the match.
The pitch is causing so many problems that many people are talking about how bad it is.
Harbhajan Singh criticized the Eden Gardens pitch, calling it a 'mockery of Test cricket' due to its difficult and deteriorating conditions.
He stated that even legendary batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli would struggle to survive on the current pitch.
South Africa was bowled out for 153 in their second innings on Day 3, setting India a target of 123 runs.
The pitch exhibited inconsistent bounce, vicious turn, and unpredictable movement, making batting challenging for all players.
Mohamed Siraj's delivery to Simon Harmer broke the off stump, highlighting the extreme nature of the conditions.
- Who
- Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Temba Bavuma, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja
- What
- Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh criticized the Eden Gardens pitch for the India vs South Africa Test match, deeming it detrimental to Test cricket. He stated that even legendary batsmen would struggle on such a surface, citing inconsistent bounce and turn. South Africa was bowled out for 153 on Day 3, setting India a target of 123.
- When
- Day 3 of the India vs South Africa 1st Test
- Where
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Why
- Harbhajan Singh expressed concern over the deteriorating pitch conditions and their negative impact on the quality and integrity of Test cricket.
Harbhajan Singh's View
Pitch Curator's Expectation
Pitch Condition
Harbhajan Singh's View
The pitch is deteriorating rapidly with inconsistent bounce, uneven turn, and unpredictable movement, making it difficult for even legendary batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to survive. He calls it 'pathetic, utter nonsense' and a 'mockery of Test cricket'.
Pitch Curator's Expectation
The pitch curator assured good bounce and carry, with swing expected in the morning session. He also warned that edges and carry would likely come into play.
Test Cricket Quality
Harbhajan Singh's View
Such conditions are detrimental to the spirit and value of Test cricket, suggesting the game is almost over by the second day and that technique is not coming into play.
Pitch Curator's Expectation
The curator's comments focused on the technical aspects of the pitch's behavior (swing, bounce, carry) without commenting on the overall quality or fairness for batsmen.
- Match
- India vs South Africa, 1st Test
- Venue
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Day 3 Target
- India needs 123 runs to win
- South Africa 2nd Innings Score
- 153 all out
- Highest Score
- Temba Bavuma (55* in 3rd innings)
- Key Indian Bowler (3rd Innings)
- Ravindra Jadeja (4/50)
- Notable Incident
- Mohammed Siraj broke the off stump clean bowling Simon Harmer.
Sources
Jasprit Bumrah calls Temba Bavuma dwarf during DRS call, India pacer's stump mic chatter in IND vs SA Test goes viral
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IND vs SA, 1st Test: South Africa breaks silence about 'bauna' remark at Proteas captain by Indian players
'It's The First Time...': Ashwell Prince Issues Statement After Jasprit Bumrah's 'Bauna' Remark Towards Temba Bavuma Goes Viral
I Will Not Answer Them: Jasprit Bumrah On Questions About Workload Management
India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test Day 2: KL Rahul, Washington Sundar eye big total in Kolkata on second day
India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 2 Live Score:KL Rahul, Washington Sundar Hopes To Get India To Lead
Eden Gardens pitch during India vs South Africa Test faces severe backlash; ‘even Tendulkar or Virat wouldn't survive’
Siraj Shatters The Off Stump, Breaks It In Half As South Africa Batter Has No Clue | Watch
