Kolkata: As India take on New Zealand in the final game of the T20 series at the Eden Gardens, we can look back at the hosts’ loveaffair with this ground. The iconic venue in Kolkata hosted some of the biggest games of cricket in the past although in T20, it only started for the host nation back in 2011, when they first played in Kolkata against England and have only played thrice at this venue alongside a game being abondoned against South Africa. The results though have fairly good for the hosts winning three out four games that has been played here, so let us check how’s T20I matches have gone so far for the “Men in Blue”.
India vs England(October 29,2011): The debut T20I game at the iconic stadium didn’t go as planned as India suffered a 6wicket defeat at the hand of the then defending T20 world champions England.
Batting first, India’s line up collapsed horribly with Suresh(39) and MS Dhoni(21) getting the hosts to a mere 120/9 in 20 overs. Steven Finn(3/22) and Tim Bresnan(2/19) bowled stunning spell for the visitors who chased it down with much ease with star batsman Kevin Pietersen scoring a sparkling 53 to seal the deal.
India vs South Africa(October 8,2015): South Africa already had that series in their pocket with a 2-0 lead six years back but were looking for a clean sweep.
However, Nature intervened to save India from much embarrassment. A heavy rainfall followed by waterlogged outfield forced the third T20 to be abandoned without a toss or a ball bowled.
India vs Pakistan(May 19,2016): This match was an iconic one in every sense as India hosted the first ever T20 World Cup in 2016 and this was also the first time India would face Arch rivals Pakistan in any ICC tournament at this very venue.
After suffering defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their opening game of the tournament, India returned to winnings ways in stellar fashion registering thrilling 6 wicket victory over their noisy neighbours. After asking Pakistan to bat and restricting them to a mere 118/5 in 20 overs. The hosts needed a heroic knock from their mercurial man Virat Kohli to save the day as the batting line-up suffered an early collapse in their chase.
With Pakistani bowlers firing in all cylinders, Kohli, then just 27 year old played one of the best innings in his T20I career scoring an unbeaten 37 ball 55 to rescue India’s campaign.
India vs West Indies(November 4, 2018): This is actually the last time, India played a T20I game up and till now at Eden Gardens with the “Men in Blue” registering a 5 wicket victory over reigning T20 World Champions West Indies in the opening game of that T20I series with winning the other two games as well taking a clean sweep.
After India’s bowling unit lead by Kuldeep Yadav(3/13) and Jasprit Bumrah(1/27) managed to tame the power of the Caribbean side’s batting line-up restricting them to a mere 109, India chased down the target with ease despite suffering a collapse early at the top with Dinesh Karthik(31*) and Krunal Pandya(21*) topping the charts.
