Eden Gardens, which is considered to be one of the most iconic stadiums around the world, has now got a new look as it prepares to host five matches of the ODI World Cup.
Before the renovation of Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Eden Gardens held the title of the largest venue in India, with a capacity of 68,000.
It was the first stadium that hosted a World Cup final in 1987, after Lord’s hosted the first three World Cups from 1975 to 1983.
The lively pitch and breezy conditions next to the Hooghly River are sure to rustle up some stunning ODI clashes, as well as a World Cup semi-final meeting.
Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snehasish Ganguly talked about the opportunity of hosting five World Cup matches and said, “It’s a great opportunity because the five matches of the WC, including the semi-final, will be hosted by Eden Gardens.
I think this kind of opportunity comes once in a hundred years. Previously, we had two or three matches. This time, we have five important matches. We have Bangladesh and Pakistan because Bangladesh is a very good team in a 50-over format. We will be hosting England vs Pakistan, which is great because England is the defending champions. So I think all the matches are high profile, and it is challenging.”
The club house, conference room, dressing room, media centre, main hall, and historic photo gallery have now got a brand new look.
There is a wall specifically dedicated to the former players and umpires who are associated with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). There are pictures and names of all the players who marked their presence in international cricket.
There is also a wall that holds the memories in the form of pictures of the iconic moments that took place at Eden Gardens.
CAB President Snehasish Ganguly talked about the recent developments that the stadium has undergone and said, “We have been planning this for more than one year.