Eden Gardens, Kolkata Pitch Report & Weather Forecast For IND vs SA ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Match 37

Add as a preferred source on Google

Eden Gardens in Kolkata will stage it's third match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 on Sunday (November 5) when table toppers India face second-placed South Africa in match 37 of the show-piece tournament.

Both sides come into the match on the back of comprehensive wins. While Rohit Sharma-led India defeated Sri Lanka by 302 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Temba Bavuma's South Africa beat New Zealand by 190 runs at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

India bundled out Sri Lanka for just 55 runs after posting 357 on a wicket that had something in it for the pacers in Mumbai, while South Africa also posted the same total and bowled out New Zealand for 167 on a wicket that bowlers enjoyed bowling under lights.

The India-South Africa encounter in Kolkata also may be played on a similar surface, which could assist the pacers and get a little easier to bat on when dew sets in late into the second innings.

Weather has interrupted both India and South Africa's matches so far in the World Cup. While India's match was stopped due to mist without overs being lost in Dharamsala, South Africa's game at the same venue saw overs being reduced after rain delayed the start.

With some parts of India witnessing showers due to the retreating monsoon and most recent match also having a say on the result, here is a look at the Kolkata weather forecast and the Eden Gardens pitch report for IND vs SA World Cup match:

Kolkata Weather Forecast on November 5

There is no threat of rain in Kolkata on Sunday (November 5) or in the lead up to match, according to AccuWeather, which forecasts a humid and hazy day with temperature at a high of 33° C at the start of play and reducing to 26° C at the closing stages.

As per Weather Channel, however, there is forecast for morning showers that will stop before toss and remain partly cloudy during the playing hours with temperatures expected to touch 30° C in the noon and reduce to 26° C at the closing stages.

Rain prediction for Kolkata on November 5: There is chance for showers from morning till 1 PM IST, half an hour before toss. So, weather may play spoilsport or at least delay the start in the IND vs SA match in Kolkata if the forecast turns out to be true.

Also, like many other venues in the 2023 World Cup, dew could be a factor in the later stages of the second innings in Kolkata, meaning the team chasing may have an extra advantage. So, how is the Kolkata wicket going to play? How will they cope with dew?

Eden Gardens pitch report for IND vs SA World Cup match

Four pitches of the nine strips have been selected by the ICC to host the five ICC World Cup 2023 matches, including the semifinal, in Eden Gardens in Kolkata. All the wickets at the venue have been prepared using black cotton soil, which helps retain the bounce.

The most recent games at the venue have seen a mixture of results with one ending in favour of the team batting first and the other in favour of the team chasing. Both matches have been played on different wickets that have assisted the quick bowlers.

In the first World Cup 2023 match at the venue, an all round bowling effort from Bangladesh had restricted Netherlands to 229, but the Dutch pacers dominated proceedings under lights to bundle out the Tigers for a paltry 142 to seal an 87-run victory.

The second game at the venue saw Pakistan's pace battery bundle out Bangladesh for 204 before Fakhar Zaman returned in style to make short work of the run chase by taking the opposition pace attack on in the powerplay.

The average first innings score in the 33 ODIs hosted by the venue is 234. Over the years, the teams batting first have had the advantage with spinners using the slowing surface as the game progresses. But recently even the quicks have found joy bowling under lights.

Dew is likely to be a factor helping the teams chasing, but sporting tracks have been prepared to stop one-sided matches. The captains will be tempted to chase once again at this venue, where South Africa have won their two recent ODIs, and India has won 3 in the last four.