Kolkata, November 12, 2025:
As the countdown begins for the India vs South Africa 1st Test starting November 14 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the spotlight returns to one of India’s most iconic cricket venues. This will be Team India’s first Test at the ground in six years, with their last appearance coming against Bangladesh in November 2019 — the historic Day-Night Pink Ball Test that India won by an innings and 46 runs.
With Shubman Gill leading the side into a new home series in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, let’s take a look at India’s overall record and player milestones at the Eden Gardens.
India’s overall Test record at Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens, often described as the “Mecca of Indian cricket,” has hosted 42 Test matches since India’s first match here in 1934. The home team has enjoyed considerable success, registering 13 wins, 9 losses, and 20 draws.
India’s first Test win at the venue came during the 1961-62 series against England, while their last defeat was in 2012, also against England. Since then, the Men in Blue have remained unbeaten in Kolkata.
| Matches | Won | Lost | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 |
Most runs at Eden Gardens
Historically, Eden Gardens has been a paradise for Indian batters. The black-soil surface offers consistent bounce, allowing stroke players to build long innings.
VVS Laxman, who famously scripted several memorable knocks here, leads the charts with over 1,200 runs at an astonishing average of 110.63. He is followed by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Mohammad Azharuddin — all of whom have left their mark in Kolkata.
| Player | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VVS Laxman | 1217 | 110.63 | 5 | 3 |
| Rahul Dravid | 962 | 68.71 | 4 | 3 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 872 | 45.89 | 2 | 6 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin | 860 | 107.50 | 5 | 2 |
| Dilip Vengsarkar | 645 | 71.66 | 2 | 2 |
Most wickets at Eden Gardens
While batters have dominated headlines, spinners have thrived on the Eden surface as the matches progress. Harbhajan Singh tops the wicket-takers list with 46 wickets in seven Tests, followed by Anil Kumble and Bishen Singh Bedi. Among pacers, Kapil Dev and Mohammed Shami have also found notable success at this venue.
| Player | Wickets | Average | 4 Wkts | 5 Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbhajan Singh | 46 | 21.76 | – | 6 |
| Anil Kumble | 40 | 30.82 | – | 2 |
| Bishen Singh Bedi | 29 | 22.03 | 1 | 3 |
| Kapil Dev | 27 | 32.37 | 1 | 2 |
| Mohammed Shami | 23 | 19.39 | 2 | 1 |
The return to Kolkata
As India prepare to face South Africa, the focus will again be on how the Eden Gardens pitch behaves. Curator Sujan Mukherjee has already confirmed that the wicket will offer “a bit of turn” as the match progresses — something head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill will hope plays to India’s advantage.
For the passionate Kolkata crowd, this Test marks the return of red-ball cricket to their city after a long wait — one that promises a blend of history, strategy, and emotion.
