ICC Rates Eden Gardens Pitch “Satisfactory” After IND-SA Test

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the pitch at Eden Gardens in Kolkata as "satisfactory" for the first Test between India and South Africa, sparking opposing comments from fans and experts alike.

The Test match, which took place from November 14 to 16, 2025, ended in three days with South Africa winning by 30 runs. This result was historic, marking the Proteas' first Test series triumph in India in more than 20 years.

Gautam Statement After the loss first Test

"This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. This is exactly the pitch And I feel that the curator was very, very helpful. And this is exactly what we wanted. And this is exactly what we got. When you don't play well, this is what happens," India coach Gautam Gambhir said
 

After the game, the pitch was the subject of much controversy. Critics noted the quick turn and uneven bounce from the first day, which they said slanted the game in favor of bowlers and made batting extremely tough. Indeed, neither team produced a score above 200 in either of the innings, and India was bowled for only 93 while chasing 124 in their second innings.

ICC Statement

Under these conditions, ICC match referee Richie Richardson rated the surface good. This decision implies Eden Gardens will not face the same level of official scrutiny as other international locations. For example, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was recently judged unsatisfactory after the Boxing Day Test in Australia ended in only two days, resulting in widespread criticism and a penalty point. 

Series Highlight 

The second and final Test at Guwahati was played on a much better surface, and the match lasted five days. However, India lost that Test as well, dropping the series 0-2. The pitch at that location was rated very high.