Eden Gardens Kolkata Pitch Report For IND vs ENG 1st T20I
Eden Gardens, Kolkata [Source: @CricSubhayan/X]
On Wednesday, India will lock horns with England in the first T20 International of the upcoming five-match series. The much-awaited clash will take place at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India have assembled a formidable squad for the home series. The likes of Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya form India's power-packed batting lineup, while the onus will be on Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy to spearhead the bowling department.
On the other hand, Phil Salt could be a key player for England, having enjoyed stellar success at this venue in the Indian Premier League. Apart from the swashbuckling opener, skipper Jos Buttler is expected to emerge as a threat to the hosts along with Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer.
Considering the strength of both teams, we expect a fascinating contest in the first T20I between India and England. Ahead of the high-voltage series opener, let's see how the surface at Eden Gardens in Kolkata will behave throughout the contest.
Eden Gardens Kolkata Stats And Records In T20Is
Criterion | Data |
---|---|
Matches Played | 12 |
Matches won batting 1st | 5 |
Matches won bowling 1st | 7 |
Average 1st innings score | 155 |
Average 2nd innings score | 137 |
Eden Gardens Kolkata Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?
The relaid surface at Eden Gardens in Kolkata has been a batting beauty. The pitch generally offers a hint of seam movement and extra bounce to the fast bowlers early on with the new ball. So, the openers should negotiate the first couple of overs carefully before shifting gears.
However, as the game progresses, the conditions get only better for batting. The batters will enjoy its pace and lightning-fast outfield to score runs at a rapid rate. Therefore, it's essential for the pacers to be accurate and hit the hard length to succeed.
The spinners might get some turn, but it won't be significant. The average run rate at Eden Gardens in men's T20Is since 2021 is 8.50, signifying the track's batting-friendly behaviour. Dew is expected to play a crucial role in the second innings. Also, considering the chasing sides have been more successful at this venue, the toss-winner will likely bowl first.
Players To Watch Out For At Eden Gardens Kolkata
Phil Salt
- KKR's former opener Phil Salt has incredible numbers at this venue, scoring 350 IPL runs at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 185.18. If he sees through the first few deliveries from India's new ball bowlers, Salt can be a nightmare for the hosts on Kolkata's batting-friendly track.
Suryakumar Yadav
- Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav is known for his hard-hitting attributes. Regarded as India's Mr 360, Surya can torment the English bowling unit with his scintillating stroke play.
Hardik Pandya
- India's premier cricketer Hardik Pandya is hailed as the finest white-ball all-rounder in the world. Besides providing the hosts with finishing touches, Pandya can chip in with a few overs of handy medium-pace bowling.
P.S: Apart from these players, the eyes will be on Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Jofra Archer, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarty and Sanju Samson.