IND vs ENG: Eden Gardens Pitch Report and Records for India vs England 1st T20I in Kolkata
The conditions at Eden Gardens suggest a run-fest, and both teams will look to take advantage of the favorable batting pitch.
India and England are ready to face each other in the first T20I of the five-match series at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday, January 22. This match brings back memories of their semi-final clash in the T20 World Cup last year, where India won by 68 runs in Guyana.
Both teams have explosive batters, and the fans can expect plenty of fours and sixes. England’s batters are familiar with Indian conditions thanks to their IPL experience, but their bowlers need to perform well as India has many in-form batters.
India recently won a T20I series 3-1 against South Africa, while England beat West Indies 3-1 in their last T20I series. With momentum on their side, both teams will look to take an early advantage at Kolkata.
On that note, let’s take a look at the pitch report and records of Eden Gardens.
Pitch Report
Eden Gardens offers one of the best batting pitches in India. In IPL last year, it hosted several high-scoring matches. Punjab Kings chased down 262 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders here, the highest successful chase in T20 cricket.
Defending a total at this venue is challenging. The average first-innings score in T20Is is 155. However, dew plays a crucial role in evening games, making it harder for bowlers in the second innings. Teams winning the toss often prefer to bowl first and take advantage of better batting conditions later.
Toss Strategy
Since the match starts in the evening, dew is expected to impact the game. The team winning the toss should ideally opt to bowl first to avoid bowling in dew-heavy conditions, which can make gripping the ball difficult.
T20I Stats and Records at Eden Gardens
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 12 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 5 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 7 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 155 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 137 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 201/5 (By PAK vs BAN) |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 70/10 (By BAN vs NZ) |
| Highest Score Chased | 162/4 (By IND vs WI) |
| Lowest Score Defended | 186/5 (By IND vs WI) |
