Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosts Match 6 of IPL 2026 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 2. One of cricket's most iconic venues, Eden Gardens is a batting paradise in modern IPL — here is the complete pitch report.
Eden Gardens — Pitch Overview
Eden Gardens has transformed from a spin-friendly surface into one of the best batting pitches in IPL. The pitch is hard, flat with true bounce and a lightning-fast outfield. Batters who get set can score at will — this is regularly one of the highest-scoring venues in IPL. The ground holds the record for the highest successful T20 run-chase ever — Punjab Kings chased down 262 here in IPL 2024.
Key Pitch Stats at Eden Gardens
- Average first innings score: 190-210 in recent IPL seasons
- Teams batting second win: approximately 55-60%
- Dew factor: Very significant in evening matches — major advantage for chasing team
- Best bowling type: Spin in middle overs, pace with new ball
- Boundary size: 68-75 metres — larger than most venues
Batting Conditions
Eden Gardens is a batter's ground. The pitch offers true bounce and even carry, making it easy to time the ball. The fast outfield means even mistimed shots race to the boundary. Teams regularly post 200+ here — both KKR and SRH have the batting firepower to make this a 210+ game. With Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Sunil Narine, and Heinrich Klaasen in the mix, expect a high-scoring contest.
Dew Factor
April evenings in Kolkata are warm and humid, creating significant dew from the 12th over of the second innings onwards. This makes chasing considerably easier — the ball becomes wet, spinners lose grip, and batters can play with more freedom. The toss is crucial here. Both teams can expect the toss-winning captain to opt to bowl first, with dew becoming a significant factor towards the later stages of the match.
Fantasy Tips for Eden Gardens
- Pick batting-heavy teams — this is a 200+ pitch
- Both SRH openers (Head + Abhishek) are must-considers
- Narine bats at top and bowls — double value on this surface
- After toss — load up on batting second team heavily
- Varun Chakravarthy remains effective despite flat pitch — mystery spin works here
See our KKR vs SRH Dream11 team for complete fantasy picks.
