Prince Holds Verdict on Eden Gardens Pitch Until Post-India Innings in IND v SA 1st Test

South African batting coach Ashwell Prince expressed concerns about the inconsistent bounce of the Eden Gardens pitch, which he felt disadvantaged his team on the first day of their series opener against India. The Proteas struggled with the unpredictable pitch conditions, collapsing to 159 runs in 55 overs, giving India an early advantage.

Prince noted that signs of the pitch’s inconsistent bounce were evident early, with a ball rolling for four byes and another rearing up shortly after. This inconsistency made it challenging for the South African batters to settle, with four of their top five managing to pass 20 runs but failing to build significant partnerships due to the effective Indian bowling.

Reflecting on the day’s play, Prince acknowledged the quality of the Indian bowling, which capitalized on the difficult conditions. He mentioned the lack of trust batters might develop towards the surface, particularly when faced with a quality attack consistently hitting troublesome areas.

Despite these challenges, Prince believes it’s premature to judge the pitch until India completes its first innings. Noting that KL Rahul reached 13 from nearly 60 deliveries, he suggested that the pitch isn’t conducive to free scoring, although India heads into the next day with nine wickets in hand.

Looking ahead, Prince stressed the importance of not overthinking the situation. He emphasized the necessity of containing India’s lead to a manageable level, ideally setting them at least 150 to chase in the second innings. The immediate focus, he added, should be on claiming early wickets the following morning and adapting as the day progresses.

Published on November 14, 2025.