- Nasima Akter
Fans to be treated to light and sound show at Eden Gardens for 2nd ODI
After not hosting an ODI since September 2017, Eden Gardens will be performing a light and sound show to commemorate ODI cricket's return to Kolkata. The laser show will play during the innings break of the 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka on January 12.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is hosting the show and was the one to announce the news. In one report, Cricket Association of Bengal secretary Debabrata Das stated, "Eden Gardens witnessed light and sound show in 1996. After that in Legends League Cricket last year. This time we are going to make it successful in the 2nd ODI of India VS Sri Lanka. On the 12th of January, we are all set to host this match and during the innings break there will be a light and sound show, which will be surprising as well."
The last time that Eden Garden hosted a One Day International format was when India won against Australia in 2017. After the major Covid-19 break, Eden is going to host the 2nd ODI match at its full capacity.
It was in 1996 that Eden Gardens first introduced the laser show at the cricket stadium of India when the BCCI president was Jagmohan Dalmiya.
In another report, the newly elected treasurer of CAB Prabir Chakraborty said, "Eden Gardens will always surprise you. This time the same will happen. We have invited all the BCCI officials and all the state associations office bearers for the 2nd ODI."
While Eden Garden has not hosted an ODI in years, it still hosts other game formats. As a stadium that’s been around since 1864, it is the oldest and second-largest stadium in India and third-largest in the world. It’s record crowd is 110,564 fans for the India versus Sri Lanka 1996 World Cup semi-finals.
It has hosted many memorable matches and events. One recent event was when Rohit Sharma recorded the highest-ever score in a One-Day International game with his incredible 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014.
The last time the venue held an event involving lights was in November for the India and Bangladesh match. It was the first-ever day-night Test in India.
To mark the event, the entire Eden Gardens stadium, along the Sourav Ganguly and Jagmohan Dalmiya stand was decorated with pink lights. The match also featured a pink ball.
Back in September, the venue performed a light and sound show for the match between the World Giants and Indian Maharajas.
During the innings break, the stadium come to live with a psychedelic show of laser rays swaying to the rhythm of Rang de Basanti, Made in India, and Suno Ghaur Se Dunia Walo. The performance lasted for around 10 minutes.
Before Eden Gardens hosts the 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka, it will be hosting the matches between Bengal and Baroda for the Ranji Trophy tournament. Eden Gardens is the home stadium to the Bengal Ranji team and the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
