"This wicket will keep getting more dangerous" - Cheteshwar Pujara on India's chances in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India player Cheteshwar Pujara has opined that the Eden Gardens pitch would become more dangerous as the third day of the first Test between India and South Africa progresses. He opined that the match could get stuck if India lose early wickets while chasing a 100-plus target.

India reduced South Africa to 93/7 in their second innings at Stumps on Day 2 (Saturday, November 15) in Kolkata. The visitors have a lead of 63 runs with three wickets in hand heading into the third morning.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Pujara opined that the Eden Gardens surface would become more difficult to bat on the third day after the initial half an hour's play.

"On the third day, the cracks will open up even more. They are not going to close. So the wicket will get worse on the third day. The bounce will be up and down. The ball might not turn that much in the first half an hour in the morning," the former India batter said. "However, after that, this wicket will keep getting more dangerous. So the Indian batters will have to keep in mind that if they are chasing more than 100 and they don't get a good start, this match could get stuck," Pujara added.

South Africa managed only 159 runs in their first innings of the Kolkata Test, when the pitch wasn't as helpful for the bowlers. In reply, India were bowled out for 189 in their first innings, taking a crucial 30-run lead.

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"A 3-digit figure can bring a huge psychological difference in this game" - Cheteshwar Pujara on the state of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

KL Rahul's 39 in India's first innings has been the top score in the Kolkata Test thus far. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Cheteshwar Pujara reckoned that India would need to take the remaining three South African wickets for less than 30 runs.

"A three-digit figure can bring a huge psychological difference in this game. It won't be easy if the Indian team is chasing even 120 runs. Somewhere or other, they would have to think that more than 30 runs shouldn't be scored for the last three wickets," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that a 100-plus target won't be easy to chase, highlighting that even an in-form set batter might find it difficult to score runs on the Kolkata pitch.

"It could be easy if they are chasing a total around 90, but beyond 100, it won't be that easy for the Indian team because this is not an easy wicket. No matter how good a batter you might be, no matter how well you might be batting, and no matter what good form you might be in, it won't be easy to score runs on this wicket," Pujara observed.

In the same discussion, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra acknowledged that Corbin Bosch (1* off 4) is a decent batter and Temba Bavuma's (29* off 78) batting has been exemplary thus far. However, he opined that India can dismiss South Africa for the addition of less than 30 runs, pointing out that breaks are natural wicket-takers in Tests, with the South African captain needing to get set again.

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Edited by Kartik Iyer