March 21, 2025: Kolkata Police have requested the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to reschedule the IPL match scheduled for April 6 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Eden Gardens, citing concerns about security due to the ongoing Ram Navami celebrations. The police have indicated that the heavy security deployment required for the city during the religious festival will prevent them from providing adequate safety for the match.
Snehasish Ganguly, the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), confirmed the request and stated that the CAB had submitted it to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for consideration. However, Ganguly mentioned that they are still awaiting a response from the BCCI regarding whether the match will be rescheduled or moved to a different venue.
Kolkata Police’s Joint CP (HQ), Meeraj Khalid, also acknowledged the request to reschedule the match but emphasized that no response has been received yet. “We have requested to reschedule the match, but we have not received any response from them,” Khalid said.
The April 6 match is part of a high-profile IPL 2025 season, with Eden Gardens slated to host both the tournament’s opener and the final. The season will commence on March 22 with a match between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore and conclude with the final on May 25, marking the first time in nearly a decade that the IPL will end at the iconic venue. The venue will also host Qualifier 2 on May 23.
The other two playoff matches, Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, will be played in Hyderabad, the home city of 2024 runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad, on May 20 and May 21, respectively.
As of now, the rescheduling of the April 6 match remains uncertain, pending the BCCI’s decision.