Eden Gardens is set to hold its first Test match since 2019 when India and South Africa lock horns in the iconic venue in Kolkata. This match, set to begin on Friday and end next Tuesday, is the first in the 2-match Test series featuring the hosts and the reigning World Test Championship holders.
Since Eden hosted its last Test, a pink ball affair against Bangladesh which was also India’s first-ever playing a day and night Test match, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. Virat Kohli, who was the captain in that Test, has retired. Players like Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin have also hung up their boots.
Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma are still plying their trade but have been sidelined from the scheme of things in the national side. The only survivor of that match who is still playing for India is Ravindra Jadeja who is included in the upcoming South Africa Test series.
What happened in the historic Pink ball Test in 2019?
The match that took place on November 22 and wrapped up in 3 days which was November 24, had Bangladesh batting first. The Bangla Tigers were bundled out for just 106 in their first innings with opener Shadman Islam top-scoring with 29 runs with 9 other players could only muster single digit score. Only Litton Das, who was retired hurt on 24, and Nayeem Hasan (19) reached double digits. For India, Ishant took 5 wickets, Umesh snapped up 3 and Shami chipped in with 2.
After that, India came to bat and lost openers Rohit and Mayank in quick succession with the board reading 43/2. After that, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli held fort for India with the then India captain scoring a scintillating century, his 27th in Tests while Pujara chipped in with 55 runs. Rahane would score another half century while Kohli departed after scoring 136 runs. India ultimately declared their first innings at 347/9.
In their second innings, Bangladesh put up a better fight than their first but still couldn’t cross the 200-run mark, getting bundled out 195 runs, resulting in India winning the match by an innings and 46 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim top scored for Bangladesh with 74 runs while Mahmudullah, who also retired hurt, chipped in with 39 while Ishant and Umesh took 4 and 5 wickets respectively.
