In the backdrop of the opening ceremony, and an opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the energy at Eden Gardens was electric. A star-studded opening ceremony, the added factor of Virat Kohli and Shahrukh Khan’s presence and a sea of purple and gold. Three days before the game, when the KKR team bus rolled into the stadium, a mob of supporters swarmed the entrance, eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of their heroes—fans, unaware of the training schedule, would stand outside the Eden Gardens all day, unbothered by the Kolkata heat. It was a glimpse into KKR’s passionate fanbase.
In the opening game of the IPL, the Eden Gardens crowd delivered an unforgettable energy, with the stadium filled to the brim. The crowd brought their A-game, even though RCB’s Virat Kohli had pulled a huge crowd—the stadium was a sea of purple and gold. While the crowd had won the battle of energy off the field, KKR’s performance did not match the support of the fans.
As KKR went on with their season, the narrative around the franchise took an unexpected turn—one that did not have much to do with their batting or bowling. Instead, it was the pitch that had stolen the spotlight. Following the loss in the first game, Ajinkya Rahane, the KRR skipper came out in a Press Conference and stated that he would have liked to see more spin in the pitch, to which the Eden Gardens pitch curator replied that no changes can be made to the pitch. This particular discussion blew up on social media, as the debate grew stronger, the pressure on the team built up and as losses piled up, so did the fans’ frustration.
By the time KKR played their second home game, the energy of the crowd was stark. Three days ahead of the game, the crowd had considerably thinned, the buzz had now turned into a hum. Simply put, the signature energy was missing for KKR’s second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The question is why did an electric Kolkata crowd suddenly go cold? It is because they had started to temper their expectations, is it because Kohli was no longer there or just the disappointment of their home team not doing well? The excitement of an IPL opener, coupled with the hope of a title defence, had made the first match an emotional spectacle. But with KKR’s performance now faltering, and the season getting uncertain, that unshakable spirit had grown softer.
We all know KKR’s fans are among the most passionate—not just in the IPL but also in the entire country, but even the most loyal KKR supporter cannot ignore the team’s on-field struggles. The contrast of the crowd between the first and the second game tells a story about faith and fragility. While the city still bleeds purple and gold, it seems like the craze, the madness and the heartbeat of the city has softened. Maybe the fans are waiting for their team to reignite the fire that once made Eden Gardens an unbreachable fortress.
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