Throwback: What happened when India last played Test match at Eden Gardens?

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New Delhi: When India and South Africa take the field at Eden Gardens on November 14 for the first Test of their two-match series, it will mark a long-awaited return of red-ball cricket to one of the sport’s most iconic venues. This will mark India’s third assignment in the ongoing World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Shubhman Gill is leading the side while the Proteas will see their captain, Temba Bavuma, return after recovering from a calf strain.

For Kolkata fans, this will be a special homecoming serving as a reminder of how the venue once celebrated as India’s dominance under lights. The historic ground in Kolkata last hosted a Test nearly six years back. Men In Blue played a pink-ball encounter against Bangladesh way back in November 2019 and remains etched in memory for more than one reason.

At that moment, Virat Kohli was captain, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara were central to the batting up and Ishant Sharma led the pace attack. Today, most of them have either retired or moved out of the red-ball picture. Only Ravindra Jadeja remains active in the Test setup, serving as a link between the past and the present.

Revisiting 2019 pink-ball classic memories

The 2019 Test against Bangladesh, held from November 22 to 24, lasted just three days but was rich in drama. The match was a day-night fixture marking India’s first in Test cricket, symbolising a turning point in how the country embraced modern formats without losing the traditional touch. Now, after five years, the landscape of Indian cricket has shifted dramatically from leadership to team composition but the echoes of that 2019 contest still linger.

Bangladesh batted first but crumbled to 106 all out as Men in Blue’s pace attack ran riot. Ishant Sharma led the charge with five for 22 while Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami shared the rest. In response India were ruthless as despite early setbacks with both openers dismissed for 43 runs, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli steadied the innings. Kohli delivered a 136-run knock, marking his 27th Test century, which still stands out for its precision and control. Ajinkya Rahane also added his share with a composed fifty, after which India declared innings at 347 for nine. Bangladesh failed to chase them.

The Test ended in just three days with India sealing victory by an innings and 46 runs. It wasn’t just a win; rather, it was a statement as the Eden Gardens’ victory marked the peak of an era defined by Kohli’s aggression, Ishant’s resurgence and India’s growing dominance at home.

As India prepares to face South Africa at the same venue after nearly six years, the occasion carries both nostalgia and promise. The Eden crowd, which is famous for being loud and loyal, will once again witness a new chapter but this time led by a new captain against a formidable opponent and that too at a ground that has seen Indian cricket evolve through generations.