After empty stands during the India vs. West Indies series, the India vs. South Africa series has got its tickets sold out. However, the Cricket Association of Bengal has not released tickets for all the blocks; the tickets released are indeed sold out totally, which is quite visible from the disappointed faces loitering at the Mohammedan Sporting Ground. The vendors have accumulated near the Mohammedan Box Office center, selling mostly jerseys of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and the current team, Shubman Gill. Even MS Dhoni's jersey are available if searched properly Well, Eden Gardens has indeed got the vibe back after 6 years. There was a huge queue of people right outside the clubhouse gate and on the opposite side of Goshto Pal Sarani to have a slight glimpse of the players practicing inside. A good number of policemen deployed dragged in the guardrails, the big trucks waiting for seconds hoping to lucky enough to catch a sight by leaving the second the fans blew those away—the stadium got the white-check back. When did Eden Garden host the last Test? The stadium has hosted international matches, with the recent one being the India vs England T20I match in 2024. However, Test cricket was nowhere in sight. The stadium has framed several immoral memories of red ball cricket outside, including the famous partnership between Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in 2001 Test against Australia. This Stadium even witnessed the great Sachin Tendulkar's final Test century in India. The faces that stood in the ticket line for the last four days were probably too young to remember that. It was in 2010 in the second Test against South Africa when India defeated South Africa by 57 runs. Tendulkar scored 106 runs with 12 boundaries in 206 balls. Well, that match saw six more centuries- from Alviro Petersen (100), Hashim Amla (114 & 123*), Virendra Sehwag (165), VVS Laxman (143*) and MS DHoni, (132*). Despite that, the Test draught was on. Currently, the Bengali's Dada, aka the former Indian captain Saurav Ganguly, is the CAB President. The last time India hosted a Test match, it was Ganguly, having his first session as the President. The last Test Eden Gardens hosted was the first-ever Pink ball Test that India ever hosted. It was on November 22, 2019, against Bangladesh, the second Test of the tour. Read also: India vs South Africa 1st Test 2025: Live Match Details What happened during the Pink ball Test? It was the same chilly November, the cardigans were on, and fans stood in the ticket queue in the dark fog. The city was turned pink—pink lights, pink balloons! The pink helium balloon on the Tata Steel building was vividly visible from the Maidan ground. 60,000 people singing Dhana Dhanye Pushpe Bhora in proper synchronization—it is probably still tattooed in the hearts of those who attended the match. The other thing that fans would remember apart from Ishant Sharma's 9 wickets is Virat Kohli's century before entering his century drought! At that time, India had its pace trio—Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and the underrated Umesh Yadav. Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first but was rattled down much before Tea session on Day 1 itself. Ishant took 5 in the first innings, with Umesh Yadav taking 3. Mohammed Shami took the rest of the two, bundling the host within 106 runs. India batted once and piled up 347 runs and declared. Day 2 visitors were pretty lucky, as Virat got his 27th Test century. He scored 136 runs of 194 balls, hitting 18 boundaries and had a 99-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane, the vice captain of the side, who got a half century himself. Nevertheless. Bangladesh got bowled out at 195, thanks to Ishant Sharma's four-fer and a fifer from Umesh Yadav. A match that was supposed to be historic lasted for three days. Eden Gardens is getting back its lost charm after 2182 days. Even though, unlike IPL, there ain't any fancy banners attched to the stadium, the roads have been elated with team India banners. Its festive again in Kolkata, with fans hoping to enjoy a good contest today.