Eden Gardens is very much in the running for hosting play-offs matches during the current IPL. If there’s no change in Covid-19 regulations, the Eden has a good possibility of hosting the Qualifier I as well as the Eliminator next month.

A final decision on the matter, though, will be taken at an IPL governing council meeting after a few days. The Eden, it was learnt, had been initially chosen as the venue for all three matches of the play-offs leg, with the final slated for Ahmedabad. But owing to logistics and related issues, that plan had to be shelved as authorities felt it was more convenient to hold Qualifier 2 and the decider at the same venue.

However, Mumbai, which is hosting all the league-phase matches, and Lucknow too could be a centre for one of the play-off games, most likely Qualifier 2.

It was in February that the Eden hosted a three-match T20I series between India and the West Indies, which the hosts won 3-0. Those games were played largely before empty stands because of Covid protocols.

On this occasion, though, if the two play-off games take place at the Eden and there’s no spurt in Covid cases, at least 50 per cent of the capacity could be filled up.

Refurbishment

The Eden will also be undergoing renovation, which had been announced after the Cricket Association of Bengal’s last annual general meeting held late in 2021. The renovation work begins with installation of new seats in the lower tier of the Club House.

Bucket seats of even better quality, as seen in other iconic cricketing venues, are set to replace the existing ones with work set to begin after April 15. Even block ‘D’ and a few other stands will get new seats.

After the IPL gets over, the focus will be on the Eden floodlights, which too are set for an overhaul. Work could begin from June or July and is expected to be completed by August/September.