The Eden Gardens cricket stadium has an interesting history during the World Cup matches.
4 min read 10/28/2023, 10:30 PM IST
During World Cup cricket matches, the atmosphere at Eden Gardens is definitely unique. The air feels colder, and the big seats in the stands look more impressive because of the lights. In the middle of all the busy excitement, workers are rushing around and officials are quickly going to their offices for important meetings. At the stadium, there is a lot of traffic on Red Road and Mayo Road. Gostho Paul Sarani also has traffic, especially near the cricket legends‘ pictures on the stadium facade. People often ask, “Is anyone practicing. ” Even though things may seem the same, this time there is a stronger feeling of safety and a noticeable sense of worry.
It’s understandable to feel worried because Eden Gardens had to give up a previous India-England match during the ODI World Cup because they didn’t meet the deadlines set by the ICC. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), especially Jagmohan Dalmiya, felt disrespected when they were not given matches that did not involve India. Jagmohan Dalmiya had spent his life trying to bring back the fame of Eden Gardens.
Eden Gardens was redeemed with an exciting match between India and Pakistan and a unforgettable T20 World Cup final. But Dalmiya didn’t get to see these victories. This is the ODI World Cup and Eden Gardens represents more than just a place or a city. It symbolizes the determination that moved the World Cup from England after 12 years. Two countries that didn’t support either side played in the final match. The stadium had enough space for 100,000 people, as there was extra room in the seating rows. It seemed like there was space for 12 people in rows meant for 10.
The people in the crowd were biased towards one side. Steve Waugh later said that this was because England had won against India and Australia had won against Pakistan in the semi-finals.
However, the scenes made for an interesting ending to a special World Cup. Mike Gatting said that it was the best atmosphere he had ever experienced while playing, and he thought the crowd’s noise was incredible. also read India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023
History Of Eden Gardens
After the successful 1987 World Cup, led by Dalmiya, Eden Gardens played a major role in the 1996 World Cup. The beginning event didn’t happen as expected. The performers wore dresses that didn’t match, and the host didn’t do a good job. The gentle wind in the evening even blew away the decorative screen in the middle. The cancellation of the semi-final match was a big surprise for the stadium, which is known for its enthusiastic fans. This caused people to protest and the stadium ended up being damaged.
Eden Gardens has experienced both the greatest and the worst moments in cricket. People who saw the cricket match between England and West Indies in 1966-67 remember that some angry fans set fire to the stadium because they couldn’t get inside. During a cricket match in 1984-85 against England, people shouted “No Kapil, no Test. “ This made Sunil Gavaskar decide that he will never play at Eden Gardens again. In 1999, a Test match couldn’t be played in front of people because Eden didn’t want to host the match against Pakistan. However, it also produced the well-known Test match in 2001.
Eden Gardens represents the progress of cricket for almost 200 years. It used to have important soccer games, like Pele’s Cosmos, until 1984. They had to move the stands in Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting to make space for more people to sit. In 1992, lights were put in place at Eden, which became an important place for the city’s parades.
Eden Gardens is an important part of cricket’s history. Although it might not host a World Cup final in the near future, cricket fans will always cherish it. Snehasish Ganguly is in charge of taking care of and making the stadium better. He understands that only good memories can help forget about the stadium’s difficult history. Eden wants to show off its charm with five matches, so he plans to make it happen by doing some renovation.
Excellent write-up