Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly remains optimistic that Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will host the much-anticipated IPL 2025 final, now rescheduled for June 3. The venue, steeped in cricketing history, was initially slated to host Qualifier 2 and the final on May 23 and 25, respectively, before the tournament faced a week-long disruption due to heightened India-Pakistan tensions.
“We’re trying — talking to the BCCI,” Ganguly confirmed, underlining ongoing discussions with the Indian cricket board. “Is it that easy to shift the final? It’s Eden’s playoffs, and I’m sure everything will be sorted. I’m very hopeful.”
Ganguly, also a former Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president, emphasized the strong rapport between the BCCI and CAB, now led by his brother Snehasish Ganguly. Despite protests outside Eden Gardens demanding the final’s return to Kolkata, Ganguly downplayed the impact, reaffirming the positive relationship between the regional and national cricket bodies.
Eden Gardens has already played a central role in IPL 2025, hosting the tournament opener and scheduled originally for the climactic stages. The venue’s chance to stage the final was earned after Kolkata Knight Riders clinched the 2024 title. However, with KKR knocked out after a washed-out match in Bengaluru, and the revised fixtures placing Eden outside the current playoff venues, its fate remains uncertain.
Yet, Ganguly’s belief in Eden’s cricketing legacy remains unshaken. “Kolkata has finished its league matches, so Eden is not there in the first list,” he clarified, hinting that a change could still be on the cards.
As cricket lovers await a final decision from BCCI, all eyes are on whether the ‘Mecca of Indian cricket’ will once again host the IPL’s grand finale.
