Eden Gardens curator assures a run-fest in the 2nd ODI

When India and Australia last met at the Eden Gardens for an ODI in 2003, the host couldn’t chase 236; and fell short of 37 runs. However, things have changed a lot over the years- India are now a stronger force to reckon with and the wicket at Kolkata has changed as well. After an interesting rain interrupted match in Chepauk, the action now moves to Kolkata, where the curator has assured a good game.

Eden Gardens’ chief curator Sujan Mukherjee claims the wicket is going to be neutral in the second ODI between the two sides here on Thursday. “If the rains don’t play spoilsport, you can expect a good game of cricket. Though the pitch is going to stay covered for longer hours if the rain continues, but I don’t think that is going to make any difference to the nature of the wicket,” Mukherjee told Sportstar.

“I don’t make personal wickets, as you have seen in the last one year. My wickets are known for pace, bounce and a bit of spin. The pitch will have good carry and the batsmen will get a chance to play their strokes too. It is a sporting wicket,” he added.

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is the current president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, also conveys his inputs to Mukherjee when laying the wicket. Ganguly, known for having a realistic take on the game had mentioned that India will win the series but expecting a whitewash was a bit far-fetched considering that Australia is a much stronger limited overs side than Sri Lanka, whom India recently rattled.

Ganguly is a neutral person: Mukherjee

“Since Ganguly played the game, he understands the demand of a good wicket. His inputs are valuable but these days, he doesn’t get much time for inspection, he comes whenever he is free. He wouldn’t say much if things are on track. Even he is a neutral person, he told me to lay a pitch that will comfort both teams,” confirmed Mukherjee.

On being asked what the expected total on this wicket was, Mukherjee was quick to remind the changed nature of the pitch after it was re-laid as Royal Challengers Bangalore saw a terrible fate against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this year. Interestingly, Nathan Coulter-Nile had stunned RCB into silence with his 3 wickets and that is precisely why the chief curator also backs the bowler as the lone threat for India. “That is a debatable topic. Royal Challengers Bangalore, with names like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, were bundled out for 49 in the IPL this year. But overall, this is a 280-300 wicket.”

However, a lot will also depend on how the weather plays out as rain is expected at this time in the eastern part of the subcontinent.