Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) home game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 6 has been relocated to Guwahati. The move comes after the Kolkata Police expressed its inability to provide adequate security for the match, citing concerns related to the ongoing ‘Ram Navami’ celebrations on the same day. According to Snehasish Ganguly, president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), police forces would be stretched thin due to the massive number of processions planned throughout the city, with over 20,000 expected across West Bengal, as announced by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
Given the security challenges, the CAB reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to explore rescheduling options. However, Ganguly confirmed that no suitable alternative date could be found in Kolkata, leading to the decision to move the match to Guwahati.
This match, which was expected to draw a packed crowd at Eden Gardens, is one of the highlights of the IPL season. Both KKR and LSG have substantial local fanbases, further increasing the anticipated turnout. However, in light of the security situation, the move to Guwahati was seen as the only feasible option. An official statement from the IPL is still pending regarding the rescheduling of the match.
This is not the first time security concerns related to Ram Navami have impacted an IPL game. In 2024, a similar situation arose during the KKR vs. Rajasthan Royals match, which was also rescheduled due to a lack of security resources.
Ganguly added that without adequate police protection, managing a crowd of 65,000 at Eden Gardens would have been impossible.
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