The upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 is due to begin on February 07 with the Eden Gardens in Kolkata set to host its first game of the competition in the afternoon between West Indies and Bangladesh, even though the latter's participation remains a mystery due to the ongoing political situation.

The venue will host several games in the tournament, including the potential game for the Indian side if they qualify for the second stage of the event. The ground notably hosted the famous final of the T20 World Cup 2016 between England and West Indies, when the two-time champions hosted the competition last time.

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Just two weeks ahead of the curtain raiser of the tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) security members reached Kolkata to assess and get a final picture of the Eden Gardens' security arrangements for the World Cup 2026. The ground is scheduled to host the first semifinal of the event if Pakistan fails to qualify for the mentioned clash.

ICC security arrives in Kolkata for T20 World Cup 2026 preparation

Most teams have begun their last-minute preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with the co-hosts, the Indian side, facing New Zealand in a home five-match T20I series, while Sri Lanka is hosting England in three T20Is. After the three T20Is against Afghanistan, the West Indies will fly to South Africa for the same number of games of the shortest format.

Australia and Pakistan would be facing each other in the T20I series. However, there will be discussions on Pakistan's participation in the World Cup as the PCB wrote a letter to the ICC on refusing to play the World Cup if they don’t solve the issues of the BCB, which now seems to be the wrong decision.

Pakistan is not scheduled to travel to India, as they will play all of their group matches in Sri Lanka after the mutual agreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to play their games in neutral venues.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the pitch rating for the first Test of the two-match Test series in November 2025, which Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosted. It massively helped the spinners, as the match ended inside three days. 

India vs South Africa 2025 Kolkata Test: India lost by 30 runs

The latest Kolkata Test between India and South Africa didn’t experience a 200+ total in four innings. After South Africa chose to bat first, they scored 159 all out, while the hosts India replied with 189 all out and earned a 30-run lead.

In their second innings, South Africa scored 153 runs, where the visiting captain Temba Bavuma scored a heroic half-century (55*), the only 40+ score in that Test match. Chasing down the 124-run target in the fourth innings, India were bundled out for only 93 runs, as South Africa won that Test match by 30 runs. 

It was South Africa’s first Test win in India after 15 years, where the 36-year-old off-spinner Simon Harmer won the Player of the Match award for taking eight wickets in the game, four wickets in each innings (4/30 & 4/21). Ultimately, South Africa won the two-match Test series by 2-0, which was their second Test series in India, first in 25 years. 

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Eden Gardens in Kolkata received "satisfactory" pitch rating

The ICC match referee Richie Richardson has brought the "satisfactory" rating for the Kolkata Test pitch. It means that the Test pitch has passed ICC’s pitch expectation level, as the venue received the second level of the ICC’s four-tier pitch rating system.

Despite several criticisms, including those of the former Indian captain and the present Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly, the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir was happy with the pitch condition, as he clarified that the team wanted a similar kind of pitch. 

The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will begin on February 07 and be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the defending champions featuring in their opening clash against the United States of America (USA) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, while their most mouth-watering fixture against the arch-rivals takes place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Overall, the entire competition will be played around eight venues in India and Sri Lanka. Six of those will be in India, with the Wankhede Stadium hosting the second semifinal. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the final of the T20 World Cup 2026. However, all of these depend on Pakistan’s qualification to the knockout stage.

List of top cricket stadiums to watch out for in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

1.   Eden Gardens (Kolkata)

 One of the biggest sporting centers, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, holds a very special place in the history of Indian cricket as it has a massive capacity of more than 66000 after it underwent renovation before the World Cup 2011. The track is considered to be batting-friendly with the short straight boundaries. However, the pacers have started to enjoy the venue’s pace and bounce.

Eden Gardens will host three games for Bangladesh against Italy, the West Indies, and England in the group stage event, while the England and Italy sides will also lock horns at this venue. India, if it qualifies, may feature in the Super 8 fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026.

2.   Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)

The Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad has been rebuilt in the name of Narendra Modi Stadium. It now holds the massive attendance of over one lakh spectators in the stadium and also hosts all the premier clashes of the World Cup finals and the Indian Premier League (IPL) knockout encounters.

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After hosting seven games of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host some high-profile games of the T20 World Cup 2026. It will be among the two South Africa games against Afghanistan on February 11 and later against New Zealand on February 14. India will also face the Netherlands at this venue on February 18.

3.   MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai)

The ground is named after the former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Tamil Nadu Association, MA Chidambaram. Hosting various clashes, it always helps the spinners on its dry surfaces, while the dew becomes a massive factor in the fixture in the evening.

The most interesting clash of the T20 World Cup in Chennai will be between Afghanistan and New Zealand on February 08, while the latter will host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) two days later. The United States of America (USA) will participate in the clash against the Dutch, while New Zealand’s third clash will be against Canada on February 17.

4.   Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)

Relatively younger than the old grounds like the MA Chidambaram Stadium and the Eden Gardens, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is one of the most iconic stadiums for the T20 World Cup 2026. A dispute between the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) led to the construction of Wankhede Stadium.

It will host the opening clash between India and the United States of America on February 07, while on the very next day, England will lock horns with Nepal. Three days later, the Harry Brook-led side will take on the West Indies. Another superb clash at this ground can be between the West Indies and Nepal on February 15.

5.   R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo)

One of the slowest surfaces in Sri Lanka belongs to the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the humidity becomes a massive factor in evening clashes to tackle the dew factor. It will host the most entertaining game of the T20 World Cup 2026 between India and Pakistan.

Apart from that, Australia will play two games on February 11 and 13 against Ireland and Zimbabwe, respectively, while Sri Lanka will face the Irish side on February 08. Three Super Eight clashes will also take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. 

The batting coach of the Indian side, Shitanshu Kotak, has stood behind the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, regarding the Eden Gardens surface post the opening Test against South Africa. The 22-yard grab grabbed headlines with the game ending in less than three days after the Blue Brigade got bundled out for 93 in their fourth innings chase of 124 runs.

Kotak reckoned that everyone had an agenda against Gautam Gambhir, and that was the reason for them in making such a comment. He addressed that Gambhir took it on themselves, where he informed that it was the same pitch that they wanted from the curator, Sujan Mukherjee, ahead of the Kolkata clash.

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“Everyone is going after only Gautam Gambhir, perhaps because certain individuals have an agenda. No one is talking about how the players have performed. Gambhir took it upon himself, but we have been asking for a pitch that will start turning from day three, and the match lasts three to four and a half days.” Kotak expressed in the pre-match press conference.

Shitanshu Kotak backs Gautam Gambhir’s comment on Eden Gardens pitch during IND vs SA 1st Test

It was not a great pitch for the batter, who struggled with the bat across both innings. Simon Harmer went through the Indian line-up with eight wickets, while Marco Jansen also picked up vital wickets with the bat using the short balls against the top order of the Indian side.

There is concern about their captain and number three batter, Shubman Gill, who is expected to be ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati. Kotak reckoned that if he doesn’t get fit for the encounter, the management would be happy to have different options in the batting department, as Rishabh Pant is expected to lead the side.

“Gill is definitely recovering really well. Now, the decision will be taken tomorrow evening. Even if he's fully recovered, we have to ensure he doesn't spasm in the game again. If Shubman had batted in both innings in Kolkata, that would be 30 runs. If he recovers well, he will play. If he feels that he needs time, we have good replacements.” Kotak explained.

When India had South Africa on the floor with 93/7 by the end of the second day’s play during the opening Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, many reckoned that it would be an easy chase for the Blue Brigade to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. But it wasn’t the case as Temba Bavuma’s gritty 55* set the target of 124 runs for the home side.

And once India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul for one run in the absence of Shubman Gill, who had been hospitalized due to a neck spasm, the end was near for a side struggling to play the spinners. Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, revealed that it was the exact nature of the surface they wanted.

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“There weren't any demons. Bavuma, Axar, and Washington scored runs. Those who had good defense scored runs. You should know how to play when the ball turns. This is what we asked for, and the curator was supportive. This is exactly the pitch we were looking for.” Gambhir expressed during the post-match presentation.

Gautam Gambhir not disappointed with Eden Gardens surface for IND vs SA 1st Test

In the first innings, the Proteas were bundled out for 159 runs in the first innings before the home side earned a tiny lead of 30 runs. They had the chance to kill the game in the first innings with a lead of over 100, but they couldn’t. In the fourth innings, as expected, they got bundled out for 93 in the 124-run chase.

Among the pacers of the Indian side, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj picked up 10 wickets across innings, while the spinners collected the remaining 10 wickets. On the other hand, India lost 12 out of the 18 available wickets against the Protea spinners. Even the CAB president, Sourav Ganguly, confirmed that it was the exact surface the hosts asked for.

“The pitch is what the Indian camp wanted. This is what happens when you don’t water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can’t be blamed. They haven’t asked for it yet, so I can’t answer that question. It looks like a very good one.” Ganguly concluded.

The South Africans pulled off a stunning 30-run win over India in a low-scoring thriller at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Chasing a modest target of 124 runs, India witnessed a dramatic batting collapse and were bowled out for just 93 on the third day. This was also South Africa's first Test triumph on Indian soil in 15 years.

But the match kept on being closely fought from the very beginning as momentum kept shifting. South Africa, after winning the toss, batted first but were bowled out for 159. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah came up with an excellent spell of 5/27 to give the hosts early control in the game. India replied with 189 in the first innings, managing to take a slender 30-run lead, with KL Rahul's composed 39 the highest score. Offspinner Simon Harmer was the standout performer for South Africa with 4/30.

Temba Bavuma played an unbeaten captain's knock of 55 to ensure stiff resistance for South Africa in the third innings. Eventually, the visitors got bowled out for 153, setting India a target of 124. However, India’s chase fell apart quickly as wickets tumbled one after another, struggling against the accuracy and turn produced by the South African spinners, especially Harmer, who picked four more wickets for just 21 runs.

Simon Harmer’s 8 wickets in the match helped South Africa win the game

The win for South Africa showed their fightback, having lost the first innings by 30 runs before they chased down a small target. Simon Harmer was the star of the match, ending with superb match figures of 8 wickets and taking apart India's batting in both innings. Adding to the woes, Indian skipper Shubman Gill retired hurt to a neck injury while batting in the first innings, which meant they were one batter short in the second innings. 

See Also: IND vs SA: BCCI's latest update on Shubman Gill’s neck injury after hospitalisation in Kolkata test

Washington Sundar showed some fight with a 31-run knock. For South Africa, Bavuma was the only one to bat well in the second innings to help get their team over 100. While Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets on Day 2, Kuldeep Yadav also took a couple of important wickets. but India couldn’t handle the pressure as South Africa completed a memorable win inside three days and now leads the series 1-0.

Fans reacted to India’s 30-run loss in the Kolkata Test by sharing funny memes on X (Twitter). Here are some of the best memes:

From sledging to hugging on your defeat 💀👀

#SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/GdzUWj28Ks

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

ICT fans after seeing the team is losing even the easy matches now.#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/EbHor82iI3

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

South Africa beat India by 30 runs to go 1-0 up in the series

Erippuk @GautamGambhir#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/zbBQozqJhr

— 𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓪𝑒𝓵  (@Rolex8170) November 16, 2025

GG era 🥲After 15 years we lost to SA in India and not able to chase the low target 😭

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/Uwp8MkZLco

— V I P E R (@VIPERoffl) November 16, 2025

- Lost NZ series and put all the blame on Rohit Sharma
- Lost Sl series
- Lost BGT
- Lost ODI Series vs Aus
- Played politics with Rohit and virat and silently diverted all the hate towards gill &
- Today after 15 years SA won a match lm indian soil

Ruined my beautiful ICT 💔. pic.twitter.com/HDx3wy6zbb

— Roesque (@LVR_HYPER09) November 16, 2025

Temba Bavuma after beating India :#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/X3SSxHgUvN

— 🅰️ J (@EHuman0) November 16, 2025

south africa didn't beat india - karma did. pic.twitter.com/ROns4F1ANW

— desi sigma (@desisigma) November 16, 2025

What will be your next excuse for this never ending defeat series 🧐😒

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/ZZ7RuGVQ5E

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

Bavuma gets the final laugh

What a game, and what a captain’s knock.

Give the man his due

South Africa won test in india after 15 years #INDvSA #INDvsSApic.twitter.com/Yfj8VXH2eG

— Ash (@Ashsay_) November 16, 2025

They trolled him for his height
Action speaks Louder than Words🔥.

Team India failed to chase 123 against South Africa! 🤯🥶

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/PU6RXkGgCH

— ALii ツ (@ALii__313) November 16, 2025

The president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), Sourav Ganguly, came to the defense of the Eden Gardens 22-yard, which was being used for the opening game of the two-match Test series between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India could take only a tiny lead of 30 runs in the first innings after bundling out the Proteas for 159. 

In the first innings, Jasprit Bumrah ended with fine figures of 5/27 in 14 overs, including five maidens at an economy rate of under two. Mohammad Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav shared four wickets between them while Axar Patel ended with 1/21 in six overs. Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain, revealed that the Blue Brigade management requested them for that respective pitch.

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“The pitch is what the Indian camp wanted. This is what happens when you don’t water the pitch for four days. Curator Sujan Mukherjee can’t be blamed. They haven’t asked for it yet, so I can’t answer that question. It looks like a very good one.” Ganguly expressed during the interaction on News18 Bangla.

Sourav Ganguly reacts to India’s request for IND vs SA opening Kolkata surface

In the second innings of the clash, Temba Bavuma recorded a fine knock of 55 runs and remained unbeaten to set a target of 124 runs in the fourth innings for the home side, who lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul early in the chase and looked under tremendous pressure.

“Yeah, look, I mean, to be honest with you, even we didn’t expect a wicket to deteriorate so quickly. We all thought when we watched that first couple of hours that it was a good wicket, so it did deteriorate quite quickly, which was unexpected.” Ganguly addressed.

“That’s the beauty sometimes of playing in the subcontinent. You need to be able to adapt and react to conditions quite quickly, and that’s the sort of challenge that we’re facing here at the moment.” The former Indian left-handed opening batter shed light during the same discussion.

South Africa began their first innings after choosing to bat, and India opened with disciplined bowling. Jasprit Bumrah extended his fiery form by removing Aiden Markram for 31, securing both South African openers inside the first session of the Kolkata Test. His impact came early, giving India full control and forcing South Africa to rethink their approach in challenging morning conditions.

The main breakthrough came in the 12th over when Bumrah bowled a 137.7 kmph delivery that bounced more than expected. The ball moved away slightly, and Markram tried to play at it but was unsure. Rishabh Pant then pulled off a brilliant one-handed catch by diving to his right, making the dismissal even more special.

Markram walked back after scoring 31 off 48 balls, with five fours and one six. His wicket ended a short 5-run stand for the second wicket. South Africa, who were comfortably placed at 57/0, suddenly slipped to 62/2 in 12.1 overs. Bumrah’s double strike shifted the momentum towards India.

Bumrah’s Early Breakthroughs Help India

By the end of the first session on Day 1 at Eden Gardens, South Africa reached 66/2 after choosing to bat. Bumrah removed both openers, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, putting early pressure on the visitors. Wiaan Mulder and skipper Temba Bavuma are currently at the crease, trying to steady the innings.

Watch the video here

Simply outstanding! 💪🏻💥

Rickelton first, Markram next! #TeamIndia’s gun spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah has now removed both the 🇿🇦 openers!

Catch the LIVE action ⬇️#INDvSA 1st Test LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/uK1oWLgsfx pic.twitter.com/a8YFAcqShA

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 14, 2025

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Indian captain Shubman Gill chose a spin-heavy lineup, suggesting the team expects the pitch to offer more turn later in the match. The nature of this Test, being an important one in the World Test Championship cycle, has given India a strong start and an early advantage in the match with Bumrah's early wickets.

At the time of writing, South Africa are 85/3 in 19.3 overs during Day 1, Session 1 of the Kolkata Test. Wiaan Mulder is batting on 16, while Tony de Zorzi is on 2, with Kuldeep Yadav having taken 1 wicket so far.

Team India is reportedly not happy with the Eden Gardens pitch, where India and South Africa (IND vs SA 1st Test) will play the first of the 2-match Test series. The first Test match is scheduled to start on November 14. Ahead of the first day of the match, India captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir were spotted with Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee. Sourav Ganguly also stepped into the field to understand the situation. 

As per previous reports, the surface of Eden Gardens can be covered with a thin layer of green grass. The green cover will initially help the pacers with the new ball. As it seems, the pitch may not be a typical spin-friendly subcontinent track, where spinners get extra help almost after a day of play. 

Traditionally, at Eden Gardens, pace bowlers get more success than the spinners. If the thin layer of grass remains on the pitch, then, in the India vs. South Africa 1st Test match, there will be high chances for the pacers to get some help from the track.

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Team India concerns over Eden Gardens' pitch

Ahead of the opening day of the first Test match, it was reported that the Indian team management is not fully happy to see the surface. They talked with the pitch curator as well. The captain and the vice-captain of the team closely monitored the pitch under the morning daylight. Ganguly was also there to talk with Gambhir and Gill. 

Before taking the flight to India, South Africa faced Pakistan on a spin-friendly deck. Against the Pakistani spinners, South African batters struggled a lot. In Kolkata, mainly because of the wicket, the toss can take a big role in deciding the result of the game. Though, if the predictions prove to be on point, then the spinners can also get a turn as the game progresses and the pitch gets old. 

Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir offered prayers at the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata before the start of the first Test match against South Africa at Eden Gardens. The much-awaited Test will begin on November 14, marking the start of a two-match series between India and the newly crowned World Test Champions. Gambhir’s temple visit showed his belief and hope for a successful start as India prepares to face a tough South African side.

India kicked off their home season with a comfortable 2-0 win over the West Indies, but this series against South Africa is going to be much tougher. The Proteas have a strong bowling attack and talented batters, which means India will need to give their best performance to win. Fans are eagerly waiting for the return of Test cricket at Eden Gardens, known for its electric atmosphere and passionate supporters.

A video of Gambhir at the Kalighat Temple has been shared widely on social media. Many fans appreciated the coach’s spiritual side before such an important series. His arrival has created a calmness and concentration for his team as they prepare for their eagerly awaited game in Kolkata.

Gambhir Shares Thoughts on Coaching and Team Communication

In an interview recently published on BCCI.tv, Gambhir discussed his position as a coach and the issues that he deals with as a coach. He mentioned that one of the hardest parts of coaching is telling a player that he won’t be part of the playing XI. Quoted by Cricbuzz, Gambhir said:

“If you tell someone that he's not playing, that's probably the toughest conversation for a coach and a player as well because I know that the player would get upset when he deserves to be part of the playing XI. But if you're honest, if you're straightforward, if you know that what you're saying is from your heart and there is nothing beyond that, I feel that some players do understand. And it's a communication between a player and a coach.”

Watch the video here

Gautam Gambhir visits Kalighat Temple. ❤️pic.twitter.com/6nqVyzy5CN

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 11, 2025

See Also: Team India likely to change opening pair in IND vs SA ODI series, Shubman Gill can lose his place

Before the main Test series, the India A vs South Africa A games ended in a 1-1 draw. India A won the first match, but the visitors chased 417 runs in the second to level the series. After the two Tests, both teams will play three ODIs and three T20Is, completing a full cricket tour. With Gambhir leading from the front, Team India will aim to start their home season on a high note at Eden Gardens.