Mohor Chaudhuri at Eden Gardens
The sun had not yet risen completely above Eden Gardens, but it was already breathing – alive with footsteps, small talk, discussions on how the match could pan out today and the quiet sense of anticipation that only Kolkata understands. At Gate 1 and 2, from where I entered , the security staff assembled in formation, controlling the crowd with utmost diligence, their eyes alert to their surroundings in preparation for a busy few days. I noticed one adjusting his cap, another checking his walkie-talkie – part of the first line of discipline in a cricket-crazy city that worships the game. Everything about their movement is swift, silent, and almost ceremonial – it is impossible to imagine Eden would run without their support and contribution.
Just outside the stadium gates were the jersey vendors beginning their day in the same ritual. “Didi, India jersey! Best quality!” a young seller shouts in a voice tinged with hope and excitement. He is quick with his hands – from folding and refolding, the shirt is held up towards the light.
The jersey sellers were doing brisk business from dawn. “Virat and Rohit always sell, because they may have retired but they’re residing in all our hearts,” one said with a laugh, holding up stacks of white. But this time, it was the Shubman Gill shirts which were disappearing fastest. Children tugged at their parents’ sleeves, pointing at the merchandise with No. 77 on the back. “He’s the star of our generation and my absolute favourite,” a teenager declared proudly, already wearing his Gill jersey.
Inside the gates stood one of Eden’s most recognisable faces – Ashok, a lifelong fan who hasn’t missed a match here, international or domestic, ever since he was awarded lifetime membership by Jagmohan Dalmiya himself. Today, his face was painted, and you noticed the “Virat” smeared across his cheek. On his head rested a hat stitched with photographs of India’s Women’s World Cup-winning squad and “I love Eden” written in bold. “Sachin is God,” he said with folded hands. “But I’ll always bow down to Sourav Ganguly and Sri Dalmiya. They built this place.”
As the stands filled and chants of “India! India!” curled into the winter air, Eden came alive once more – not just with cricket, but with the devotion of those who keep its soul burning. It’s not just about the spectators in the stands, but these intrinsic parts of the cricket-viewing experience who make it all the more vibrant for us.
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