Following months of renovation and a significant facelift, the iconic Eden Gardens is all set to host the first of its five World Cup matches involving Bangladesh and the Netherlands on Saturday.
Even though only renovation and refurbishment was possible to the present structure on the land owned by the Army, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) began its preparations for the World Cup months in advance and squeezed in all possible modern amenities inside the sprawling decades-old structure.
It began by switching to modern lighting, redecorating the hanging press box and media centre, redesigning the interiors of the main lobby, dressing rooms, and corporate boxes to add a touch of luxury.
New covers, which can be used to cover the whole ground within one-and-a-half minutes in case of rains, a bigger and digital scoreboard, revamped washrooms for fans, and a fresh coat of paint are some other facets which have given a facelift to the Eden Gardens.
Known for its long and eventful history associated with the game, the Eden Gardens may have made a late entry into the showpiece event due to the Durga Puja festivities, but it certainly promises thrilling action while staging the prestigious tournament for the fourth time.
In each of the previous three editions, the venue was witness to drama. In 1987, it saw Australia lift its maiden World title. In 1996, it shed tears over the forgettable episode of the home team conceding the semifinal to eventual champion Sri Lanka in bizarre circumstances due to crowd disturbances. And in 2011, the stadium played host to a high-scoring tussle between minnows Ireland and the Netherlands with the latter ending up on the losing side despite putting up a 300-plus total.
With the fresh strips in the middle expected to produce good contests between the bat and the ball, the most recognizable sporting venue in the Maidan area of the city will continue to be the center of attraction over the next three weeks, until the semifinal on Nov. 16.