New Delhi: The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly has defended the pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee amid massive criticism over the surface prepared for the first Test between India and South Africa in Kolkata .

The surface has heavily favoured bowlers, offering turn and bounce from the opening day and making it difficult for batters. Temba Bavuma was the only batter to score a half-century in the third innings of the match.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan also bluntly described the surface as an awful pitch. Ganguly said that the surface was prepared as per the Indian team’s demand. “This is what happens when you don’t water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can’t be blamed,” Ganguly told News18 Bangla.

A total of 16 wickets fell on

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