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Sourav Ganguly backs BCCI plan to stage Australia Tests at newer venues like Guwahati and Ranchi.
Sourav Ganguly throws his weight behind BCCI. (PTI Photo)
India batting legend Sourav Ganguly has welcomed BCCI’s recent decision to allot Test matches to emerging venues including Guwahati and Ranchi. While Ganguly says he would be happy with Eden Gardens playing host to Test matches but adds that it’s important to take the longest format to other non-traditional venues as well.
BCCI recently announced India’s 2026–27 home season schedule, with high-profile fixtures in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy set to be played in Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad between 21 January and 25 February.
Traditional centres including Kolkata and Mumbai missed out on the series.
Responding to the decision, Ganguly said Eden Gardens had already hosted a number of major matches in recent years.
“It’s always special to have big Test matches at Eden Gardens,” the former BCCI said at an event. “As CAB president and a former player, I would like to host Tests here, but we recently had a Test against South Africa, along with matches in the T20 World Cup and the IPL.”
“As much as you want matches at Eden, it is important they go to other venues as well,” he added.
India’s upcoming home season includes series against West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Australia across formats. Kolkata and Mumbai are currently scheduled to host only limited-overs matches.
Guwahati, which staged its first Test in November 2025, is set to host its second within just over a year. Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium also returns as a venue after hosting West Indies in October last season.
Kolkata and Mumbai have been allocated one-day internationals against Zimbabwe in January 2027, while Delhi will host Sri Lanka in an ODI on 13 December this year.
The decision to move away from traditional Test venues has prompted mixed reactions.
Ganguly backed the board’s approach, pointing to the quality of facilities across the country. “Stadiums all around India are very good. I’m happy to see Tests in Chennai, Guwahati and Ranchi,” he said.
Former India spinner Venkatapathy Raju though disagrees and called for a return to established centres.
“In our time, we had five main Test venues – Kolkata, Kanpur, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai – and that had its own charm,” he said. “They should consider going back to that format. Playing at venues like Eden, with such strong crowd support, is always special.”
With PTI Inputs
March 31, 2026, 15:21 IST
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