"KKR, KKR…"—Eden Gardens gets into the groove

A visit to the Eden Gardens, right after the Kolkata Knight Riders' incredible last-over win against champions Gujarat Titans, showed fan power at its best on Friday evening. No wonder it’s been called the fortress of the KKR.

‘’It’s [a] big plus to have KKR playing at home after three seasons. And yes, you can say that there is a lot of anticipation to watch Rinku Singh after his five sixes,’’ said a man in his mid-30s, his wife and seven-year-old in tow, all plodding along with the crowd navigating a nearly kilometre-long bamboo-fenced entry route designed for 'crowd control'.

Fans of all hues walked patiently along the route as roadside vendors did brisk sales of replica shirts and caps. Kolkata fans seemed to wave away concerns over the searing heat of the past week, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees. It looked to be a near-capacity crowd of 60,000-plus taking their seats as the Knights eyed a third win on the trot.

The deafening slogan of "KKR, KKR" filled the air, the cheerleaders undeterred by the brisk start which England’s Harry Brook gave the Sunrisers after they were sent in to bat. In recent years, there have been a larger proportion of women in the crowd, testament to the IPL's marketing success.

This is the venue where, till the beginning of this season, the KKR had won 45 of 74 home matches.