T20I cricket is returning to the iconic Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata, where the Indian Cricket Team will face England in the opening match of a five-match T20 series.
The iconic stadium last hosted an international match on November 16, 2023, when Australia and South Africa faced off in the second semi-final of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
However, do you know when Eden Gardens last hosted a T20I match? It was when India faced West Indies in the last match of a three-match T20I series on 20 February 2022.
In the match, the Indian team defeated the Carribeans by 17 runs to manage a clean sweep, winning the series by 3-0.
When India played a T20I game last time at the Eden Gardens
Having a 2-0 lead, India already had one hand on the trophy when they faced West Indies for the last match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Kieron Pollard-captained West Indies side won the toss and elected to bowl first.
After an early departure of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad on 4 (8), Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer took a hold to rotate the innings and made a good partnership. Kishan made 34 off 31 and Iyer made 25 off 16 deliveries before going to the pavilion.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma made only 7 off 15 balls, leaving the team in trouble after he was bowled by Dominic Drakes in the 13th over. India was on 93/4 at this point.
However, Suryakumar Yadav took it all on himself and made a blazing 65 runs off just 31 deliveries, studded with one boundary and seven sixes! On the other end, Venkatesh Iyer provided solid support to Surya as he remained not out on 35 off 19, an innings with four boundaries and two over-boundaries.
.@surya_14kumar smashed 7 sixes on his way to 65(31).
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 20, 2022
📸: Disney+Hotstar#SuryakumarYadav #INDvsWI #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/D0SuufWu5W
India finished their innings on a safe total of 184/5, leaving a tough job for the West Indian batters.
In response, West Indies faced early calamities with both of their openers going back to the pavilion within the first three overs. Deepak Chahar took both wickets to startle the Windies innings.
Nicholas Pooran held the ground for the Caribbeans in the first down, building a composed innings of 61 off 47 balls. The rest of the team did not have much to deliver as only Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd tried to build some resistance.
Although Powell and Shepherd respectively scored 25 (14) and 29 (21); West Indies ended their innings on 167/9, handing India a victory by 17 runs.
India lifted the trophy with a clean sweep over West Indies, whereas Suryakumar Yadav was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
India complete a clean sweep 👏
— ICC (@ICC) February 20, 2022
They win the final T20I against West Indies in Kolkata by 17 runs to win the series 3-0 🙌#INDvWI | 📝 https://t.co/v4n2wgfk91 pic.twitter.com/q4OYX5lDAT
This series win was visibly significant, leaving doors for the selectors to see a potential leader in Suryakumar Yadav for India in the T20Is. Suryakumar indeed has succeeded Rohit Sharma as the captain for the Indian team in T20I.
Suryakumar Yadav is set to captain India in the 5-match series against England, from January 22nd to February 2nd, 2025.
/sportzpoint/media_files/c48b6e8a-b507-4bc0-b1be-13f362bc8839.jpg)