Indian Premier League: Eden Gardens Kind to Rohit Sharma, Kinder to Morne Morkel

IPL 8 has begun and it's begun with a bang for the Kolkata Knight Riders. The defending champions kick-started their campaign with a comprehensive win (at least on paper) against the 2013 champions, Mumbai Indians. There was one man though who gave the home team and the 60,000 plus fans inside the Eden Gardens a huge scare - Rohit Sharma. His 65-ball 98 gave Mumbai the impetus they needed in their innings after losing 3 quick wickets, forced Gautam Gambhir to rethink his bowling strategies and of course showed once again why Rohit loves the Eden Gardens. (Gambhir hails KKR bowlers for opening win)

The mecca of cricket in India remember, is the venue where Rohit scored his record breaking ODI 264. It's the same venue where he smashed 177 on his Test debut. After scoring his second ODI double ton, Rohit had said, "It's been a great venue for me as I got my hundred on Test debut at this venue. The crowd were cheering me right through." If he could, Rohit  would roll-up the Eden pitch and carry it with him everywhere. Eden truly has been kind to him. (Yuvraj pokes fun at Gambhir for breaking bat in IPL 2015 opener)

The IPL though is where city loyalties reign supreme. Rohit might have been cheered by the Eden crowd during his ODI knock vs Sri Lanka in November last year, but on Wednesday there was someone else who got a bigger cheer and he isn't even an Indian. (Morne Morkel glad to make best use of conditions at Eden Gardens)

Morne Morkel won the Man-of-the-Match award in IPL 2015 opener vs Mumbai Indians for his spell of 2/18.

© BCCI

Morne Morkel bowled his heart out in KKR's campaign opener. Gambhir was quick to spot that the 30 year old South African was in good rhythm and made him bowl his 4 overs on the trot. His figures read 2/18 in 4 overs. That's an economy rate of less than 5 on an Indian track. The crowd cheered every delivery he bowled. The Man of the Match himself admitted later, "The rhythm was good, and I just needed to make the best use of it. It's fantastic to be back here in front of an awesome crowd, and to get that first win out of the way." Morkel remember is one of the Proteas who is still trying to get over a disappointing World Cup campaign and he was helped by the Kolkata crowd. Eden surely was kinder to Morne. (Highlights)

NDTV IPL expert and former Australian cricketer Dean Jones pointed out, "Delhi got rid of him some time ago and he was their best bowler. He was fantastic. It was a big coup for KKR." On most Indian pitches, the batsmen are expected to dominate, the spinners are expected to get a lot of purchase. However, when a fast bowler does well with a little assistance from the track, it just makes for a livelier contest. Morne Morkel might just have begun a new love affair with Eden.