Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens is a cricket ground in Kolkata, India. It is predominantly used for cricket matches and is the home ground for the Bengal cricket team and the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. The cricket ground is owned and operated by the Cricket Association of Bengal.

The stadium was established in 1864 and is one of the most iconic cricket stadiums in the world. It initially had a seating capacity of 40,000 which was increased over the years. After renovations for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the capacity was reduced to 68,000, making it the second-largest cricket stadium in the world after the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.

Eden Gardens has been the venue for several landmark events in cricket. It hosted the final match of the 1987 World Cup, becoming the first stadium outside England to host a World Cup final. It is also the venue of the first-ever Day-Night Test match in India which was played between India and Bangladesh in November 2019. The stadium is often referred to as India's 'Home of Cricket' and is renowned for its passionate and knowledgeable spectators. The atmosphere at Eden Gardens, particularly during high-stake matches, is considered unmatched across the cricketing world.

Eden Gardens also witnessed some of the most memorable performances in cricket history. It is the ground where Harbhajan Singh became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in test cricket. It is also the ground where VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid had their epic 376-run partnership in the 2001 test match against Australia, which is considered one of the greatest comebacks in cricket history.

Eden Gardens is not just a cricket ground, it has also played host to several cultural and political events. It has welcomed more than 20 million spectators by its 150th anniversary. With India's cricketing heritage and ongoing love for the sport, Eden Gardens continues to be an iconic symbol of Indian cricket.