Kolkata Game A Mockery Of Test Cricket, ‘RIP Test Cricket’ Says Harbhajan Singh

A total of 152.2 overs have only been bowled so far in the first Test between India and South Africa, but we’re still very close to a result. South Africa are 93/7 leading by just 63, and there’s a very good chance the clash might end up concluding before Tea on Day 3. 

Before the series began, a fast pitch was expected at the Eden Gardens, a venue hosting its first Test in six years, but instead the reality has been a crumbling turner with borderline-embarrassing variable bounce. 

The very first over of the Test bowled by Jasprit Bumrah saw one of the deliveries roll beyond the wicketkeeper and go for four byes, and the pitch has only gotten worse with every over, to the extent that 26 wickets fell in just 152.2 overs, with both pacers and spinners proving hard to negotiate.

In the wake of the Eden Gardens surface proving to be a disappointment, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh termed the game a ‘mockery of Test cricket’.

“Test cricket india vs South Africa the game almost over on 2nd day isn’t finished yet . What a mockery of test cricket #RIPTESTCRICKET,” Harbhajan wrote on X.

Harbhajan, though, is not the only former cricketer to criticise the Kolkata surface. Former England captain Michael Vaughan also wrote on X: “Awful pitch in Kolkata.”

Irfan Pathan also took to social media to express his disappointment: “The pitch at the Eden😮,” he posted.