The oldest international cricket stadium in India is situated in Bengal, West Bengal, Kolkata. It was founded in 1864 and has seen those biggest moments in cricket history. An iconic stadium known as the ‘Home of Indian Cricket’ has an answer for where cricket’s Colosseum could be located. It is the second largest stadium in India and third largest in the world, with a current seating capacity of 68,000. Only the home ground of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Bengal Cricket Team in domestic cricket, Eden Gardens, is owned and managed by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Throughout its long history, the stadium has seen scores of memorable Test matches, ODIs, T20 Internationals, and IPL games. In this article, we will discuss Eden Garden pitch reports and more.

Historical Significance of Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens used to be a dense jungle with houses before it became a cricket stadium. During the time of Lord Auckland, then the Governor General of India, the site was developed into the public park, Auckland Circus Garden, in 1840. In 1841, a year later, his sisters, Emily and Fanny Eden, also renamed it Eden Gardens.

Some part of the park was deposited to the Calcutta Cricket Club ( CC&FC) in 1864 for cricket matches. It has evolved since then to become one of the most iconic cricket venues in the world.

• The Test match between India v England at 
• Eden Gardens was first played in 1934.
• In 1987, India and Pakistan first played an ODI match at this stadium.
• In 2011, India played England in the first T20 International match.

Development And Renovation of Eden Gardens

• 1987 Renovation for the World Cup
• The 1987 Cricket World Cup saw major renovations of Eden Gardens. It is also one of the largest cricket stadiums of its time, with an increase in the capacity of the stadium to seat 100,000 spread from 40,000. 
• To support the massive roof structure, 42 strong pillars were worked into it.
• Rain and sunlight were protected from spectators by multi-tiered stands.
• The renovations also let over 100,000 fans go and watch matches.

2011 World Cup Upgrades

The stadium was again modernized ahead of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup to International Cricket Council standards. For the job of renovating, two architectural firms were hired: Burt Hill and VMS Architecture.

Key upgrades included:

• A new clubhouse and improved player facilities.
• Fresh and new exterior style for a modern subject matter.
• Replacement of the old roof with a stronger, updated structure.
• More comfortable seating arrangements for the convenience of the spectators.

Eden Gardens Location and Accessibility

The stadium is a part of Maidan, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The full address is Gostho Paul Sarani, Maidan, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

How to Reach Eden Gardens

• Howrah Junction (5 km from the station) is the nearest railway station.
• By Metro: Esplanade Metro Station is the closest metro station to the stadium, which is just 1 km from the stadium.
• By Train: From different parts of Kolkata, there are several local trains to the Stadium.

Parking is available but limited, especially on match days, and day parking is charged. To park your car, you can search the map to find “car parking near Eden Gardens” as the need may arise.

Eden Gardens Pitch Condition

Eden Gardens pitch is traditionally known as a slow and spin-friendly one. However, over the years, it has been changed in a way that has made it a balanced one, with batsmen and bowlers being measured based on different conditions.

1. Type of Pitch

Eden Gardens pitch is black soil-based which retains moisture in the ground and assists spinners. Bounce is generally low, making for somewhat stout stroke play.

2. Behavior Of The Pitch

• Pitch: It starts Pacemen’s pitch but breaks during the match to become batter-friendly for Spinners.
• Initially, the surface aids batsmen, but later becomes flat, and spinners do have the advantage.
• Dew factor: As a result of night matches, the dew becomes difficult to grip for bowlers, particularly for the spinners.

3. Best Playing Strategy

Pitch deteriorates over time: Teams generally prefer to bat first in Tests as the pitch deteriorates over time.

Dew factor: This is the reason why in ODIs and T20s, the dew factor dictates that teams generally choose to bowl first to avoid the problems in bowling later.

4. Records & Impact

Spirit of Cricket is engraved on the varied part of the famous pitch, having seen many historic moments, such as Anil Kumble’s 6/12 in 1993 and VVS Laxman’s legendary 281 run innings in 2001. The bowler wins or the batsman does: high or low-scoring thrillers or low-scoring spin battles – whichever way it goes, the ground is one of the most unpredictable and exciting cricket grounds in the world.

Memorable World Cup Matches at Eden Gardens

1987 Cricket World Cup Matches

1996 Cricket World Cup Matches

2011 Cricket World Cup Matches

2023 Cricket World Cup Matches

Conclusion 

Eden Gardens is not just a cricket ground, it also represents Indian culture. It has been the venue for some of India’s most memorable Test matches and enthralling IPL matches. Eden Gardens is known for its breathtaking architecture and enthusiastic crowd, which remains the same despite a few renovations. It is a gem for every cricketer and cricket enthusiast around the world and is a must-visit place for everyone at least once in their lives.

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