Eden Gardens Hosts First Test in Six Years Against South Africa

Test cricket is set to make a much-anticipated return to Eden Gardens, Kolkata, after a six-year hiatus. Known as one of the largest cricket stadiums globally, Eden Gardens has been a venue for numerous historic matches, including the famous 2001 Test where India made a remarkable comeback against Australia.

The upcoming match, scheduled for November 14, sees India facing the reigning World Test Champions, South Africa. This encounter marks the longest gap between two Test matches at Eden since 1948, with the last game held in 2019 against Bangladesh, which was notable for being India's first pink-ball Test.

Eden Gardens has hosted a total of 42 Test matches, more than any other cricket ground in India. The lengthy absence of Test cricket has been unprecedented; prior to this, the longest wait had rarely exceeded three years since India gained independence.

In the intervening years, significant changes have occurred within the Indian cricket team. Five prominent players, including former captain Virat Kohli, have retired from Test cricket, while five others have fallen out of favour with selectors. Only one player from the 2019 squad remains in contention for the upcoming match, creating a notable link between the past and the present.

The 2019 Test squad was considered one of the strongest line-ups in Indian cricket history. Fresh from winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, India entered the Eden Gardens match with great confidence. The batting order featured stars such as Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane, while the bowling attack was led by Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav. This strategy proved effective, with the pace bowlers taking 19 out of 20 wickets, leading India to a comfortable victory.

Ravindra Jadeja is the sole survivor from the 2019 pink-ball Test squad, making him a key figure in the team's transition. Although Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Kuldeep Yadav were part of the squad, they did not play in that match, leaving Jadeja as the lone representative of that era on the field against South Africa.

As the stage is set for this historic encounter, cricket fans are eager to see how the new-look Indian team will perform at Eden Gardens after such a lengthy absence from Test cricket. The return of this format to one of cricket's most revered venues is expected to reignite the passion and excitement that has long been associated with the sport in Kolkata.