Team Italy gets a slice of the Eden pie

Italy’s cricket team was in Kolkata on Monday to play against Scotland as part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India–Sri Lanka edition. In the evening, the Consulate of Italy hosted a special meet-and-greet with the players, celebrating not just their debut on the world stage but also the growing global reach of the sport.

While it was not the best day for the team, the players reflected on a milestone moment – both for themselves and for the game back home.

It is a matter of pride to host the team here. Such tournaments play an important role in bridging nations and it is also one way to show how sports diplomacy works – Riccardo Dalla Costa, Consul General of Italy in Kolkata‘Playing at Eden is a dream come true’For Italy, stepping into Eden Gardens was surreal. “It’s a dream to play a World Cup at a venue this iconic,” said Crishan Kalugamage, taking in the Kolkata crowd’s energy.

Italy remains a newcomer, but belief runs high. “We start from the bottom. It helps that cricket is under the Olympic umbrella. There are nearly 100 clubs in Italy. The way forward is consistent performances globally, backed by strategy,” said coach John Davison.

Jasprit Singh sees the event as a turning point. “After this World Cup, the sport will gain real shape and structure at home. In Kolkata, whichever team passes, the spirit is the same. The city breathes cricket.”Feels fantastic to be playing at the Eden Gardens. We’ve got a great diverse team. We hope to put Italy on the cricket map globally– Gianpiero (JP) Meade from the Italian team