Will Eden Gardens Host the IPL 2025 Final? Sourav Ganguly Weighs In!

Sourav Ganguly expresses optimism about Eden Gardens hosting the IPL 2025 final, highlighting the strong relationship between the CAB and BCCI. Amidst protests for the final to be held in Kolkata, he reassures fans of a favorable outcome. Additionally, Ganguly reacts to the surprising retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, emphasizing the impact of their departures on the team. As discussions about the next Test captain arise, the cricket community watches closely for updates.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 17, 2025, 21:53 IST

Eden Gardens and the IPL Final

Kolkata: On Saturday, former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly expressed his hope that Eden Gardens will indeed host the IPL final in 2025, emphasizing the strong bond between the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and the BCCI.

While the BCCI has yet to officially announce the venues for the IPL playoffs, they have released the revised schedule after the tournament was paused on May 8 due to the India-Pakistan conflict.

When questioned about the potential relocation of the final, Ganguly stated, "No, no, we’re trying — talking to the BCCI." He added, "Eto sohoje sore jawa jay? (Is it that easy to shift the final?). It’s Eden’s playoffs, and I’m confident everything will be resolved. I’m very hopeful," during the All India Invitation Inter-School Regatta.

A group of individuals protested outside the historic venue on Friday, urging that the IPL final be held in Kolkata.

Ganguly remarked, "Protest doesn’t help much. The BCCI has a very good relationship with the Cricket Association of Bengal."

Regarding the delay in finalizing playoff venues, he noted, "Kolkata has completed its league matches, so Eden is not included in the first list."

Eden Gardens was designated to host the final due to the Kolkata Knight Riders' championship win in the 2024 season.

The venue also kicked off the 2025 edition of the tournament.

The tournament's timeline has been adjusted by a week, with the final now set for June 3 instead of the initially scheduled May 25.

Originally, Eden Gardens was slated to host Qualifier 2 on May 23 and the final on May 25.

However, the BCCI has remained silent about the new final venue, leading to increased speculation.

The anticipated change is attributed to weather forecasts, as the southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in the region around that time.

The CAB has reportedly provided the BCCI with IMD data, claiming that conditions in Kolkata will be suitable for hosting the final on June 3.

Nevertheless, the BCCI has indicated that it is too early to make a decision based on long-term forecasts, suggesting that more precise weather predictions will only be available closer to May 25.

Ganguly Reacts to Kohli's Retirement from Test Cricket

Ganguly ‘surprised’ by Kohli Test retirement

Recently, Indian Test cricket faced significant changes with the retirements of captain Rohit Sharma and batting legend Virat Kohli from the traditional format.

In response to this news, Ganguly expressed his surprise at Kohli's decision and honored both players for their remarkable careers.

"It’s their own decision. Can anyone leave the sport without it being their own wish? But it’s been a fantastic career, and the same goes for Rohit Sharma. Kohli’s retirement has surprised me," Ganguly commented.

Rohit was the first to retire from red-ball cricket, followed shortly by Kohli, creating a substantial gap in the team.

These departures come at a critical time, with a challenging five-match Test series in England approaching next month.

The focus now shifts to selecting India's next Test captain, with discussions ongoing about whether Shubman Gill or Jasprit Bumrah should take the lead.

"It’s a decision the selectors must weigh carefully," Ganguly stated.

"There are a lot of pros and cons. They have to think long term. Whatever the selectors decide, they will work it out. There’s also Bumrah’s injury — whatever they decide…" Ganguly added.