Welcome, glowed the newly installed LEDs of the Eden towers during rehearsals for the laser show at the ground late on Wednesday evening. Perhaps that’s one way of welcoming ODIs back to Eden Gardens after more than five years.
The second India-Sri Lanka one-dayer on Thursday will be the first 50-oversa-side contest that Eden will host since the India-Australia game in September 2017. The ground was scheduled to host an ODI against South Africa in March 2020, but the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forced a cancellation.
Going by the crowds outside the ticket counters, the craze for the match has gone up a few notches after Virat Kohli’s century in Guwahati. Besides, not just Kohli, there are other crowd-pullers in this Indian team. Especially captain Rohit Sharma, who has done most things right at the Eden.
“We hope at least 55,000- 60,000 will turn up for the game,” Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehasish Ganguly said on Wednesday.
Preparations were on in full swing on Wednesday night, especially on the laser show to ensure there are no glitches and the spectators are entertained even during the innings break. The tribute planned for Pele on the giant screen will comprise glimpses of the 1977 Cosmos-Mohun Bagan game at the Eden, besides a few of the legend’s World Cup goals.
Match Referee Javagal Srinath had expressed concerns about the sight-screen height, but the issue also appears to have been sorted out. Problems have no place now, for it’s festival time again at the Eden.
