Cricketers and their favourite hunting ground

Cricket isn’t just a game of number and perhaps it is one of the most psychological sport presently. How many times have we seen foreign teams who are accustomed to pace and bounce in the wicket, succumb under pressure on a fifth-day Asian track? On the other hand, there are far numerous instances where Asian sides on an abroad tour have come up with a series of meek performances in all departments.

Somehow, there is a psychological factor attached to the game and cricketers tend to use this as an opportunity to take the edge over their opponents. As a result, top batsmen have a knack of scoring runs at a particular ground or an event.

For instance, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan‘s record in Champions Trophy is second to none. In the last two editions of the premier ICC event, Dhawan has piled on as many as 701 runs at an average of 77.88, smashing 3 tons and 3 half centuries. Interestingly, both the events were held in England.

Similarly, some of the greats of the game have had an affinity towards a certain ground which somehow sparked extra brilliance from them, every time they stepped onto the field. Let us look at some of the cricketers and their favourite hunting ground.

1. Rohit Sharma: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

One of the most renowned fairytale love stories is that of Mumbai batsman Rohit Sharma and Eden Gardens. Rohit has played some of the most memorable knocks in his career at the Mecca of Cricket in India, by the name of Eden Gardens at Kolkata to make it his favourite hunting ground.

On his Test debut against West Indies in 2013, (the series remembered for the 200th and final Test match of Sachin Tendulkar’s career), he smashed 177 to announce his arrival at the Test arena. One year down the line at the Eden Gardens, in an ODI against Sri Lanka, the ‘Hitman’ toppled all records during his mammoth knock of 264, which is the highest total in ODIs and would take some breaking if at all someone manages to reach the vicinity of the score.

His romance with the ground continues in franchise cricket as well as he has scored his only ton in IPL career on this ground (109* vs KKR in 2012). Also, Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma have clinched the trophy twice during finals on this very ground.