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Sourav Ganguly has backed the BCCI's venue rotation policy following the exclusion of Eden Gardens from the 2026-27 India vs Australia Test series. The former captain stated that other cities, such as Guwahati and Ranchi, should also be allotted matches. Read the full story.
Sourav Ganguly's Reaction: Ganguly Supports BCCI Despite Eden Gardens Missing Out on a Test Match in the 2026-27 Home Season
Despite Kolkata (Eden Gardens) failing to secure a Test match in India's 2026-27 domestic cricket season, former Indian captain and President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), Sourav Ganguly, has openly supported the BCCI's venue rotation policy rather than expressing concern.
The BCCI recently released the complete schedule for India's 2026-27 home season. A total of 22 matches—comprising Tests, ODIs, and T20s—are scheduled to be played during this season against the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia. The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India vs Australia)—a five-match Test series—is scheduled to take place between January and March 2027.
The venues for this series are as follows:
- 1st Test (January 21–25, 2027): Nagpur
- 2nd Test (January 29 – February 2, 2027): Chennai
- 3rd Test (February 11–15, 2027): Guwahati
- 4th Test (February 19–23, 2027): Ranchi
- 5th Test (February 27 – March 3, 2027): Ahmedabad
Traditional Test centers—Kolkata (Eden Gardens) and Mumbai (Wankhede)—have not been allotted a Test match in this high-profile series. Both cities will host only white-ball (ODIs/T20s) matches this season. Guwahati, having hosted its first Test match in November 2025, is now set to host its second Test in less than a year.
Sourav Ganguly's Full Reaction
Ganguly stated, “It is always wonderful to have big Test matches return to Eden Gardens. As the CAB President and a former player, I would certainly love to host Test matches here; however, we recently hosted a Test match against South Africa, followed by T20 World Cup fixtures and IPL matches.”
He further added, “But stadiums across India have improved significantly now. I am delighted to see Test matches being played in Chennai, as well as in cities like Guwahati and Ranchi, where the facilities are excellent. No matter how much one might wish to see matches at Eden, it is essential to understand that matches must also be allocated to other venues.” Ganguly explicitly stated that he is not concerned by this decision and supports the BCCI's policy that Test cricket should not be confined solely to traditional hubs, but should instead be taken to other parts of the country.
This statement comes at a time when many cricket enthusiasts and experts were raising questions regarding the perceived sidelining of traditional centers. Ganguly's stance demonstrates that he prioritizes the broader development of the sport.
Background: For the past few years, the BCCI has been emphasizing a venue rotation policy to ensure that smaller cities and newer stadiums also get the opportunity to host international matches, thereby broadening the base of cricket across the country.
