Ahead of the two-match Test series between the India national cricket team and the South Africa national cricket team, the host association, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), has introduced a specially minted gold coin to be used at the toss for the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 14 between India and South Africa. One side of the coin shows Mahatma Gandhi, while the other features Nelson Mandela.
CAB President Sourav Ganguly says it was created especially for this series as a tribute to the leaders’ shared ideals of freedom, peace, and nonviolence. The Freedom’s Test series is under dispute. Trophy is a familiar name that captures India and South Africa’s historical and cultural connection through these two symbols.
Six years after its absence, Test cricket returns to Eden Gardens, boosting the excitement about the series. Ticket sales have been strong; reports indicate that almost 96,000 tickets have been sold already for the first three days.
Before the conflict between the two sides, CAB will host the Jagmohan Dalmiya Memorial Lecture on November 13, where former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar will provide the keynote address.
Organisers hope to turn a basic procedure event into one of symbolism by choosing to include Nelson Mandela and Gandhi in the tossing ceremony. Beyond cricket, the gesture raises issues of mutual respect and human rights. It reminds the players and fans that the series is about legacy and the ideals the two countries share rather than only runs and wickets.
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This may be seen from the administrative side as part of a larger plan to provide more than only sport to viewers, so strengthening cultural resonance and providing gravitas to the event. The gold coin created by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for the toss of the IND vs. SA Test is, therefore, not just a novelty item but rather a calculated effort to combine sport with legacy, remembrance, and shared ideals.
