India's Mecca of Cricket, Eden Gardens not a heaven for the hosts
Eden Gardens is not a happy hunting ground for India despite them playing the most number of Tests at the iconic stadium.
In Short
- India will take on New Zealand in the second Test at the Eden Gardens from Friday
- India beat New Zealand by 197 runs in the first Test at Kanpur
- India have won just 11 games out of 39 Tests played at the Eden Gardens
The Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata holds a very special place in the hearts of all Indian cricket lovers. The iconic stadium, established in 1864, has been the centre of attraction for cricket in India and is certainly a jewel in the BCCI's crown. (India vs New Zealand: Ganguly feels Eden pitch will not turn much)
The 2001 Test at Eden between India and Australia was perhaps the greatest match held at the venue and is also rated by many as the greatest Test India has ever played. Fifteen years later the stadium is going to host yet another memorable match as India will play its 250th Test at home when they face New Zealand in the second of the three-match series from September 30th. ('Ambitious' Gautam Gambhir as excited as debutant after India recall)
However, despite Eden being the most sought after stadium in the country, India's record at the ground remains below average. India have played the most number of its home Tests at this ground but haven't produced the kind of results that they would have wanted to. (Eden Gardens all set to make India's 250th Test at home a grand occasion)
Out of 39 matches played at Eden, India have won just 11 games, played out 19 draws and lost nine times. The most recent loss being at the hands of England in 2012. In the last 10 matches, India have won 6, lost 2 and drawn two games. (Indian team management asks Eden officials to prune grass off the pitch)
These figures won't impress the fans present at the ground on Friday and it also indicates India's vulnerability at the Eden Gardens. (Injured Jimmy Neesham to miss Kolkata Test)
In terms of wins at home, the Chepauk in Chennai remains India's most successful stadium which has seen the team win 13 of the 31 games played there. The Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi is next with 13 wins for the hosts out of 33 matches. Eden is third on this list followed by Wankhede in Mumbai with 10 wins in 24 Tests. The Green Park stadium in Kanpur, where India played the first match of the series against New Zealand and won by 197 runs in their 500th Test match, completes the top-five stadiums list with India registering seven wins there. (Need to create pressure for longer spells, says NZ coach Hesson)
MOST TESTS PLAYED BY INDIA AT A HOME GROUND:
Eden Gardens, Kolkata - 39
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi - 33
Chepauk, Chennai - 31
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai - 24
Green Park, Kanpur - 22
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore - 21
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai - 18
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali - 12
Motera, Ahmedabad - 12
MOST TEST WINS FOR INDIA AT A HOME GROUND:
Chepauk, Chennai - 13
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi - 13
Eden Gardens, Kolkata - 11
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai - 10
Green Park, Kanpur - 7
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali - 6
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore - 6
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai - 5
Despite these numbers, the Eden Gardens still is a stadium where every Indian and International cricketer wants to play atleast once in his career. When filled to capacity, the 66,000-plus stadium is a sight to behold which might put added pressure on the home team.
The passionate crowd in Kolkata expects nothing less than a win for the home team which is exactly what Virat Kohli and his team will be gunning for. Victory in India's 250th Test match and the series in the bag, would be an ideal gift for the people of Kolkata right before the start of Durga Puja.