Two hundred-plus totals have been scored in 10 games so far in IPL 2022 with teams twice chasing them down successfully.

But in the Qualifier I and Eliminator at Eden Gardens, scheduled on May 24 and 25, chasing or even posting 200 or more may require a lot of hard work from the batsmen.

The Eden pitch, being quite sporting over the last four-five years, is set to be a far cry

from the belters and flat wickets prepared during several matches of the ongoing league phase in Mumbai (Wankhede and Brabourne), Navi Mumbai (DY Patil) and Pune (MCA Stadium).

“Our preparation in terms of the pitch and the outfield is almost complete as we’ve hosted plenty of matches starting from last year’s (CAB) T20 Challenge (in September) till the Cooch Behar Trophy knockout games that ended some weeks ago.

“The wickets will most likely be similar to the ones that were in use during the recent international matches (India-West Indies T20Is in February). Quicks will get purchase, while there will be decent turn and bounce for the spinners. By no means will the ball turn square though,” Eden curator Sujan Mukherjee told The Telegraph on Monday.

“Besides, teams can’t just slog wildly and expect to get 200 runs here. Batsmen will have to work hard.”

Ticket prices

The Cricket Association of Bengal is optimistic of 100 per cent attendance in the stands unless the Covid-19 situation worsens again. The association has thus requested

the BCCI to keep the ticket prices more or less similar to those during the recent T20Is at the Eden.

The CAB has suggested that the ticket prices be Rs 500 (for all upper tiers), Rs 1,000 (for blocks ‘K, ‘L’ and ‘C’), and Rs 1,800 (for block ‘B’).

The CAB, however, will have to make do with the existing facilities at the Club House lower tier as the new seats, which were expected to be installed before the two playoff matches, arrived late. Along with paucity of time, present weather conditions in the city are also not conducive for installation of new seats.