Cricket is a religion in India, and this country has multiple cricket venues. But some of them are regarded as the best in the world. Eden Gardens in Kolkata is the first and oldest cricket venue in India. It has hosted several memorable matches in the history and is set to host the first test between India and South Africa in November 2025.
Eden Gardens is known as the “home of cricket” in India and has a history of over 150 years. The atmosphere here is always electric, and it is frequently used to host international matches, IPL games, and domestic contests. Playing at this venue is always on the bucket list of every touring team. Here we will discuss briefly the pitch report and playing conditions for Eden Gardens.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report – Batting or Bowling Pitch?
Eden Gardens was built in 1987 and is the third-largest cricket venue in the world. It offers a seating capacity of 68000 at once, which can be increased with temporary arrangements. From the World Cup, T20 World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Asia Cup, and many other important events, Eden Gardens has hosted all events. It is maintained and operated under the supervision of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
Just like other Indian venues, Eden Gardens is considered a good batting track because of shorter boundaries in the white-ball format. But in tests, the bowlers get more out of this wicket. The surface is slow, which is expected to tear as the game goes on, making it tough to bat. That is why it is considered a good bowling venue in the longest format.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report – Fast Bowlers or Spinners Pitch?
Eden Gardens has a black-soil wicket, which gets very dry with time. As seen in previous tests, the wicket gets variable bounce and will start breaking out from the second day onwards. That will bring turn and grip for the spinners. By the last two days, the bounce will get low, and some balls will rise below the knee height.
It is a two-paced wicket; slow bowlers will get more out of the wicket. Bowlers need not do much; just land the ball between the 2- to 4-meter mark, and the wicket itself will do the rest. That is why it is very hard to chase down totals at this venue. The average fourth-inning score is 143 runs, which is almost 200 less than the average first-inning score.
Overall, Eden Gardens has hosted 42 test matches. 12 times teams batting first have tasted wins, and ten games have been won by bowling first. The first-inning average score here is around 323-340. Let aside the stats; playing a cricket match here is always special. You will get a packed house, and fans love to watch a good battle.
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Eden Gardens – Test Records
| Category | Details |
| Total Matches | 42 |
| Matches won batting first | 12 |
| Matches won bowling first | 10 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 323 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 314 |
| Average 3rd innings Score | 255 |
| Average 4th innings Score | 143 |
| Highest total recorded | 657/7 (178 Ovs) By IND vs AUS |
| Lowest total recorded | 90/10 (30 Ovs) By IND vs WI |
| Highest score chased | 120/2 (39.4 Ovs) By IND vs RSA |
| Lowest score defended | 163/10 (91 Ovs) By ENG vs IND |
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Eden Gardens – ODI Records
| Category | Details |
| Total Matches | 40 |
| Matches won batting first | 23 |
| Matches won bowling first | 16 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 243 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 200 |
| Highest total recorded | 404/5 (50 Ovs) By IND vs SL |
| Lowest total recorded | 63/10 (39.3 Ovs) By INDW vs ENGW |
| Highest score chased | 317/3 (48.1 Ovs) By IND vs SL |
| Lowest score defended | 195/10 (50 Ovs) By IND vs RSA |
Eden Gardens – T20I Records
| Category | Details |
| Total Matches | 13 |
| Matches won batting first | 5 |
| Matches won bowling first | 8 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 153 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 137 |
| Highest total recorded | 201/5 (20 Ovs) By PAK vs BAN |
| Lowest total recorded | 70/10 (15.4 Ovs) By BAN vs NZ |
| Highest score chased | 162/4 (18.5 Ovs) By IND vs WI |
| Lowest score defended | 186/5 (20 Ovs) By IND vs WI |
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FAQ:
Is Eden Gardens Batting or Bowling Friendly?
Eden Gardens is one of the few Indian venues that use a black soil surface, which doesn’t have much bounce and carry. It is slow and low, and the wicket tends to break as the game progresses. Spinners are dominant here because of the spongy bounce and good grip, and all these characteristics make it a bowling-friendly venue.
What is the average score at Eden Gardens?
Eden Gardens is used frequently to host cricket matches at international or domestic levels. It has hosted 42 Test matches so far. The team batting first has won 12 games, and 10 matches have ended in favor of the team bowling first. This venue has the average score of 323 in tests.
What are the boundary dimensions at Eden Gardens Stadium?
Eden Gardens in Kolkata is decent size venue, which offers average-size boundaries across the ground. The square boundaries are of size 66-68 meters, while the straight boundaries can range up to 76-78 meters.
