October 27-30, 2013: The Ranji Trophy game between Bengal and Baroda was abandoned without a ball being bowled at the Eden Gardens. It had rained in Kolkata on match eve. About 15 kilometres away at Jadavpur University’s Salt Lake campus ground, the tour fixture between West Indies and Uttar Pradesh went on without stoppage. May 27, 2014: The IPL 7 Qualifier between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab went into the reserve day because it rained in the afternoon. The match, at the Eden Gardens, had an 8pm start. December 31, 2014: The final day of the Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Mumbai was washed out at the Eden Gardens after overnight rain. A wet outfield had forced the abandonment and the visitors were robbed of an outright win. April 26, 2015: The IPL 8 fixture between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals was called off after heavy showers at the Eden Gardens. The ground was water-logged. The game in April was the only one of this year’s IPL that had been abandoned without a ball being bowled. It cost the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) the BCCI’s grounds and pitches award despite being on the shortlist. Soon after, the cricket board sent a mail, asking the state association to overhaul the Eden outfield and improve the drainage system before the World T20 next year. The CAB wants to address the issue but curator Prabir Mukherjee is stubborn. He believes there’s nothing wrong with his ‘baby’. Mukherjee’s seniority — he’s 85 — is preventing CAB office bearers from overruling him. “The BCCI’s advice is to increase the sand content of the soil. We don’t have any problems. If Mr Mukherjee thinks a course correction is required, we will do it,” former India captain and CAB joint-secretary Sourav Ganguly said, speaking to The Indian Express. The BCCI’s East Zone curator Ashish Bhowmick feels the CAB would be better off, following other state associations. “Look at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mohali.Coring has now become a routine at almost every cricket ground. We use Pro Core 648 machines to bore holes that are about four to six inches deep. Clay is taken out and we fill them with sand. This is the best way to remove surface water. The treatment Eden Gardens soil is made of silt clay which prevents the surface water to dry up quickly. Coring will increase the sand content, and the whole process will take less than a fortnight and Rs 3-4 lakh to complete. We will have quick resumptions after rain delays,” Bhowmick explained. According to him, the modern technology will help the CAB overhaul the Eden Gardens drainage system as well within six weeks. “We’ve fantastic trench cutter machines these days and the work will be over within six weeks. It’s not very expensive, something in the range of Rs 80 lakh. All you need is a positive mindset.” Mukherjee is far from convinced. “There’s no point in blindly following the other states and foreign countries. The Kolkata climate is different. Surface humidity is a big factor here and water will take time to dry up, modern methods notwithstanding. Also, the ground tiptoes river Ganga. On the contrary With the underground water sipping in, things become even more difficult. If you increase the sand content, the surface heat would be unbearable for the players. We play cricket deep into the summer these days. I don’t think any major change is required, for all is well here. You can’t fight nature,” he contended. A BCCI functionary, however, believes that it is time the Eden Gardens embraces change and moves with the times. “The ego of an individual cannot be a deterrent to others. Fans are the worst sufferers of a washout. Eden Gardens is an iconic venue and time has come to embrace technology. There’s no point living in denial. Adequate grass cover negates the surface heat. This is how they do it in the other parts of the world,” said a BCCI functionary. The World T20 is scheduled to be held in India from March 11 to April 3 next year. Kolkata is likely to host the final.
