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Time of India
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'It's Eden's playoffs': Sourav Ganguly confident of hosting IPL 2025 final
Kolkata: Cricket lovers raise slogans as they gather in front of the Eden Gardens stadium, requesting BCCI to not remove the city as host for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final, in Kolkata, West Bengal. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra) Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly expressed optimism about Eden Gardens hosting the 2025 IPL final . Speaking at the All India Invitation Inter-School Regetta in Kolkata on Saturday, Ganguly addressed concerns about the venue's status. Ganguly emphasized ongoing discussions with the BCCI regarding Eden Gardens' hosting rights, which were awarded following Kolkata Knight Riders ' title win in 2024. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! No, no, we're trying -- talking to the BCCI," Ganguly said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want Lower Bills Without Changing a Thing? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo "Eto sohoje sore jawa jay? (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," added Ganguly. The BCCI has yet to officially confirm playoff venues after the tournament was postponed due to the India-Pakistan conflict, with the final now scheduled for June 3 instead of May 25. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on how IPL gave him a lifeline & his tribute to Phil Hughes "Protest doesn't help much. BCCI has a very good relationship with the Cricket Association of Bengal," Ganguly said, responding to protests outside Eden Gardens demanding the final be held in Kolkata. "Kolkata has finished its league matches, so Eden is not there in the first list," he explained regarding the delay in finalising playoff venues. The potential venue change is linked to weather concerns, with the southwest monsoon's approach during the scheduled period. The CAB has submitted IMD data to support favorable conditions for the June 3 final. Who's that IPL player? The BCCI is reportedly waiting for more accurate weather predictions, which will be available around May 25, before making a final decision. The venue has already hosted the opening match of the 2025 edition, maintaining its significance in the tournament's schedule. The CAB maintains an excellent relationship with the BCCI, as emphasized by Ganguly, suggesting potential positive outcomes for Eden Gardens' hosting aspirations.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Before Paris FC vs PSG was Kolkata with the world's closest derby
Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Super Giants supporters hang tifo during an Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 final football match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Bengaluru FC, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, in Kolkata, West Bengal. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra) The British colonizers wanted Kolkata to be the London of the east, but in spirit, the Bengalis have always preferred Paris. From the musicality of the two languages to the celebration of avant-garde art, the cities do share a bond. When Satyajit Ray won the Légion d'honneur — the highest French national order of merit — in 1987, the standard feeling in Kolkata was: 'We'll always have Paris.' The cultural connect is on the wane. But now, there's a football parallel between the cities as Paris FC won their promotion into the top tier of French football — Ligue 1 . Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Parc des Princes, home to Paris St-Germain, is merely 193m away from the new Paris FC ground, and the fans have already started calling it 'the closest derby in the world .' But then, Kolkata isn't too far away. The East Bengal and Mohun Bagan grounds, located in the Maidan area, are just 800m apart. But if you take a shortcut, it is merely a five-minute walk. The two giants don't play the derby — when it involves senior men's football — at their own grounds anymore. They prefer the Salt Lake Stadium — a la San Siro in Milan — because of security issues. The fact that Salt Lake Stadium can accommodate up to one lakh fans makes it financially viable for the clubs as well. But there was a time when the two teams played at each other's grounds. There was, of course, the 'neutral' Eden Gardens, designated venue of the 'big match', but cricket always took precedence there. The famous 1975 IFA Shield final, where East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan 5-0 — the biggest margin recorded between the two teams till date — was played at the Bagan ground. The hero of that afternoon, the late Subhas Bhowmick, would often recall how difficult it was to return to their home tent on that afternoon, with thousands of fans making it an occasion to remember. Till the late 1980s, the two teams did play at each other's homes on and off, especially in the Calcutta Football League. The hockey derby was played at East Bengal and Mohun Bagan grounds, but that's also a thing of the past. Memories of the Maidan derby linger, and when PSG and Paris FC take the field for the 'closest derby,' the old Maidan regular will take a trip down memory lane — once upon a time, it was ours.
