 "Kolkata Police personnel inspect the Eden Gardens on Tuesday, 11 November ahead of the first Test between India and South Africa. PTI")
Kolkata’s Eden Gardens has been put on high alert ahead of the first Test between India and South Africa after a high-intensity explosion in Delhi on Monday that left at least 12 dead and injured several others. The opening game of South Africa’s multi-format tour of India gets underway at the iconic venue on Friday, 14 November – four days after a slow-moving car exploded at a traffic signal near Delhi’s Red Fort during the evening rush hour.
The Delhi Police have since registered a case under terrorism-related sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The incident has also led to heightened tensions in other parts of the country including other major cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata.
“We are on high alert. Keeping in mind the blast in Delhi, special and additional security arrangements are being made,” a Kolkata Police official told news agency IANS. “The Special Task Force (STF) will also be deployed alongside the local police.”
Gill and Co sweat it out in a nets session at Eden Gardens
Captain Shubman Gill and a few other members of the Indian team, meanwhile, took part in a practice session at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday under the supervision of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gill and opener Jaiswal were seen facing throwdowns in the nets while senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were busy with some catching practice along with Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
After the series opener in Kolkata , the two teams will travel further east to Guwahati for the second Test, with the Barsapara Stadium set to host its first ever match in the format later this month.
The upcoming Test between India and South Africa isn’t the only sporting event which will have additional security in the aftermath of the Delhi car blast. Similar measures had also been taken for the Ranji Trophy fixture between Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national capital which concluded with a historic seven-wicket victory for J&K on Tuesday.