Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that the pitch used for the first India-South Africa Test match was not a turner, adding that it was faulty pitch preparation that had resulted in the surface becoming what it did during the match. The 39-year-old said that one could not give a turning pitch at the Eden Gardens, and if that was the case, then one would get a wicket similar to this Test match.

Barring South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, no other batter made a 50+ score on a surface where his side beat India by 30 runs, defending 123 runs in the final innings.

“If someone calls this Eden Gardens pitch a turner, I will not agree with them one bit. It was proper wicket preparation that went awry. The point I agree with is that it was quite dangerous. But my view is, give a

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