Ajinkya Rahane, the stand-in captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, didn’t hold back after KKR’s narrow four-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens. Speaking in the post-match press conference, Rahane subtly but pointedly took a dig at pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee, suggesting that the curator was enjoying the attention surrounding the ongoing debate on home advantage—or the lack of it.
The Eden surface was a batting paradise, with Lucknow posting a mammoth 238/3 and KKR nearly chasing it down with 234/7. Despite the high-scoring thriller, Rahane was clearly frustrated. KKR’s spinners, historically their strong suit, had little to work with.
ALSO READ: Match 23 (GT vs RR) – 3 Player Battles To Watch Out For
“Let me be clear—there was no help for the spinners,” Ajinkya Rahane said, before choosing to tread carefully. “There’s already been enough talk about the pitch. If I say more now, it’ll create a bawal (controversy).” The veteran batter didn’t name names outright but made his feelings clear. “Our curator has got a lot of publicity. I think he’s happy with that,” he said with a wry smile. “If I have concerns, I’d rather take them up with the IPL than speak here.”
The issue of Eden Gardens not aiding KKR’s spin strength has been simmering all season. Mukherjee, meanwhile, has been defiant. In previous media interactions, he declared that Eden’s pitch philosophy wouldn’t change as long as he was in charge, taking swipes at KKR’s spinners for not delivering, instead of blaming the surface.
ALSO READ: Match 23 (GT vs RR) – Probable XII and Fantasy XI Predictions
The heart of the matter lies in a broader debate across IPL camps: Should teams have more influence over their home ground conditions? While captains like Rahane argue that home advantage is vital and pitches should align with team strengths, curators like Mukherjee stick to the rulebook—pitches are the jurisdiction of state associations, not franchises.
For now, the tug-of-war continues, and so does the chatter. One thing is certain—Rahane has made his point, even if between the lines.
