Cricket contests are far beyond the scope of just on- field battles. Or, the victory of one between the bat or ball. You do not merely come to a cricket stadium to witness an absorbing cricketing battle alone. You come to a stadium- a battle hardened ground shaped by sweat, revenge, and retribution contributing to unparalleled sporting glory- to book your place in history.
Eden Gardens: Cricket’s address in India
But when you visit the Eden Gardens- you trespass the usual to register yourself in the realm of exclusivity. You participate in a slice of history. It, in some ways marks a tick against a bucket list for the cricket hungry traveler; quite like completing a pilgrimage in cricketing lexicon. Being at the Eden Gardens is a thrill like no other, a sight like few you have seen and an invaluable postcard from the home of the gentleman’s sport. At the Eden Gardens- the home to cricket in India- you become one with a sense of timelessness. It’s like a date on the calendar that is described in bold letters as – ever-present.
It lingers on.
Eden Gardens: A signature of timelessness
Over the course of the many shape-shifting decades that have coloured Indian cricket in veneers of nostalgia, highs and lows, Eden Gardens has transfixed both locals and nationals by rising as the throne of cricketing gladiators. You ought to feel that it is to the cricketer- experienced, young, neophyte or established- what a Roman amphitheater was for the gladiators. With a distinct ability to host nearly 92000 stunned spectators, the Eden Gardens often transforms into being a courtyard of presiding over some cricketing daredevilry.
Great rivalries, comebacks and legends have been forged here in the home of Indian cricket: the irreplaceable Eden Gardens.
Greatest contests at Eden Gardens
Implicit in the heart of Eden Gardens is the story of the following triumphs:
1. Back in 2002, the English cricket team was stopped in its brutal assault led by an in-form Trescothick that looked certain to chase down India’s 281 at the back of the bowling trinity of Kumble, Srinath and, Agarkar who scalped 7 of the English wickets.
2. The garden of Eden became the garden of midnight evil for Sri Lanka in 2014 as the ‘hitman’ from India Rohit Sharma bludgeoned his blade on his way to a characteristic assassination of the tourists through his 264
3. In 2001, Eden Gardens became the vantage point of a great history of transformation of Indian Cricket as together, Laxman and Dravid constructed perhaps the most memorable partnership against the leading doyens of cricket- Australia. In his commanding 281, Laxman ensured that for once, familiar roles were reversed and that Indians became the ringmasters taming the Aussies.
4. In the same Test, former off spinner Harbhajan Singh scalped his maiden Test hat-trick in the second inning and cut the spine of Australian batting. He finished eventually with 6-73. It ought to be said that the Eden Gardens win- now a cult episode in transforming Indian cricket’s history- may not actually have been so had it not been for the off spinner’s great effort, a perfect complement to India’s batting heroics.
Home of KKR: Revolutionary fighters of IPL
The Eden Gardens has been the home to the celebrated knights of the IPL: the Kolkata Knight Riders since 2008. It has seen Kolkata’s favourite cricketing force embody the true philosophy of its IPL DNA: Korbo- do, Lodbo- fight, Jeetbo- win.
In a memorable decade of holding battle with famous competitors, KKR have participated in some key triumphs:
1. In their comprehensive rout of the Mumbai Indians in 2010, Kolkata ensured they not only put an absolute stoppage on MI’s scoring, bringing them to a halt at 133 but went on to chase the total in mere 17 overs, flexing their muscles at the back of Shane Bond and Murali Karthik’s bowling efforts.
2. In that same year Kolkata put a brake on Deccan Charger’s batting assault through the heroics of it’s famous Prince Ganguly’s 54-ball 88 batting exhibition, when it reached 181 and made a fool out of its doubters who thought a batting heavy Deccan Chargers would chase down at 9 an over.
3. 2014 made KKR turn the Eden Gardens into an infallible fortress, winning four out of four games at the back of some blazing batting by Uthappa and Gambhir.
The Pitch at Eden Gardens
Considered to be a peach for batsmen but also a base for bowlers to succeed, Eden Garden’s dual character stems from the transition that stemmed from Ganguly’s efforts, in the period he took over the leadership reins, circa 2000-05. And in recent years, from 2015, ever since the surface was relayed, it’s become a gauntlet for pacers to hold batsmen by the scruff of their neck. Today’s Eden Garden’s track offers plenty of grass and all three pitches seemingly assist bowlers with good carry and batsmen for the ball comes well onto the bat.
How do KKR fare at the Eden Gardens?
| Season | Matches | Number of matches at Eden Gardens | No of games won at Eden Gardens | No of games lost at Eden Gardens | Games abandoned |
| 2008 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | – |
| 2009 | 14 | – | – | – | – |
| 2010 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | – |
| 2011 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 2 | – |
| 2012 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 2013 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 2 | – |
| 2014 | 16 | 4 | 4 | – | – |
| 2015 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 3 | – |
| 2017 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 3 | – |