Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane has found himself in a bit of a controversy after reportedly requesting a spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens. However, Sujan Mukherjee, the pitch curator of the iconic venue, firmly declined the veteran’s request, emphasizing that franchises do not have the authority to influence pitch conditions.
KKR’s title defense started on a disappointing note with a loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their opening game. Rahane expressed his frustration in the post-match interview, hinting that he expected the pitch to assist spinners more.
However, Sujan Mukherjee stood his ground, stating that the pitch has always had a balanced nature, and it won’t be altered to suit any team’s preference. He also pointed out the underwhelming performance of KKR’s spinners, questioning their inability to make an impact while RCB’s spinners claimed crucial wickets.
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“As long as I’m here, Eden Gardens pitch will not change. Franchises have no say over the pitch as per IPL rules. The surface has always been like this, and that will not change,” Sjuan Mukherjee told RevSportz.
🚨Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee has stirred a controversy related to the lack of turn in KKR’s home match.
Is Mukherjee right or are #KKR being unfairly treated?
Here’s @shamik100 on the entire incident@Wowmomo4u #KolkataKnightRiders #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/FkiD1WAzyT
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) March 25, 2025
He added, “RCB’s spinners took four wickets; what did KKR’s spinners do? Krunal Pandya got three wickets. Suyash Sharma bowled a beauty to dismiss Andre Russell.”
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Looking ahead, KKR will aim to bounce back in their next IPL 2025 clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Both teams are still searching for their first win of the season after suffering comprehensive defeats in their respective openers. With a head-to-head record evenly split at 14 wins each from 30 encounters, this match promises to be a competitive contest, with both teams keen to get their campaign back on track.
