Eden Gardens is an international cricket stadium in Kolkata, India. It was established in 1864 and is the oldest cricket stadium in the country. It is also the second-largest stadium in India and third-largest in the world, with a capacity of about 68,000. The stadium is operated by the Cricket Association of Bengal. It is the home ground of Kolkata Knight Riders.
It is often called the “Mecca of Indian cricket” because of its long history and importance. The 2016 T20 World Cup final was also played here. One of its most famous moments was during the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka, where more than 110,000 people attended the match.
Many cricketers and legends have praised the stadium. Former Australia captain Steve Waugh called it the “Lord’s of the subcontinent.” Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is from Kolkata, said the loudest crowd he ever heard was during India’s famous win over Australia in 2001 at this ground.
A bell is rung before the start of play since 2016. It marks the beginning of Test matches and also signals the start of ODI and T20I games. Kapil Dev was the first person to ring this bell.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report
Eden Gardens has become a high-scoring venue in recent IPL seasons. The pitch is flat with even bounce, which helps batters play their shots freely. It is a black-soil surface, so spinners can get some grip. But batting still dominates most matches.
Boundary sizes are also helpful for batters. Square boundaries are around 62–68 meters, while straight boundaries go up to 75–78 meters.
In IPL history at this ground, the average first-innings score is around 165–182. Chasing has worked more often, with about 57–58% wins coming from teams batting second. Dew in evening games is a big reason for this.
Big scoring has been common here, including a record 262/2 by Punjab Kings against KKR in 2024. Eden Gardens usually supports chasing teams and high totals, with batters having the upper hand most of the time.
Eden Gardens Features
Eden Gardens is the headquarters of the Cricket Association of Bengal. The stadium has seen major upgrades over time:
In 1987, its capacity was expanded to around 100,000 for the World Cup. Many large roofs and support columns were added during that renovation. It regularly had crowds of over 100,000 in big matches during that period.
In 2011, it was renovated again for the Cricket World Cup. The seating capacity was reduced to about 68,000 after modern upgrades. New clubhouse, better player facilities, improved stands, and upgraded infrastructure were added. Because of incomplete renovation issues, one World Cup match (India vs England) was moved away from Kolkata.
The stadium also has stands named after famous cricketers like Sourav Ganguly and Pankaj Roy, cricket administrators like Jagmohan Dalmiya, and even Indian soldiers. In 2025, a stand was dedicated to Jhulan Goswami.
FAQs
Q. Which team uses Eden Gardens as home ground?
A. Kolkata Knight Riders play their home matches here.
Q. What is the pitch like at Eden Gardens?
A. The pitch is flat and good for batting.
Q. What is the seating capacity of Eden Gardens?
A. It can hold around 68,000 spectators after modern renovations.
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