On Sunday, India will play the West Indies in a virtual quarterfinal of the T20 World Cup in Kolkata on the same pitch where Scotland scored the first 200-plus score in the competition.
According to local curator Sujan Mukherjee, the strip that hosted the “second match of the T20 World Cup” will host India’s Super 8 match against the West Indies.
Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), examined the pitch and outfield on Friday night before they were completely covered.
Mukherjee and the board’s head curator, Ashish Bhowmick, had a long conversation with the former BCCI president. The former captain of India looked intently at the surface and evaluated the firmness from both ends.
“Ganguly appeared happy seeing the preparation of the pitch which was last used for the second World Cup match. It’s a typical Eden wicket full of runs and there would be something in it for the bowlers too,” PTI quoted Mukherjee as saying.
He added that there would be a lot of dew.
In the match played in Kolkata on February 9, Scotland amassed 207/4 against debutants Italy before bowling them out for 134. With his remarkable 4/17 bowling figures, off-spinner Michael Leask was named the Player of the Match. With significant surface dryness anticipated, spin may play a role once more.
Nonetheless, the Eden pitch has also provided good bounce and carry, which was especially noticeable during England’s games and was enjoyed by Jofra Archer.
Therefore, along with Hardik Pandya, India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and left-arm fast Arshdeep Singh would also fancy their chances.
West Indies have a little advantage because they have already played and won two group league games at Eden Gardens (against Scotland and Italy), even though India will be playing their first match there in this tournament.
With South Africa’s victory against the West Indies and India’s elimination of Zimbabwe on Thursday, the Super Eights match has essentially become a knockout clash.
