Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee, who recently came under fire for stating that IPL franchises shouldn’t dictate pitch conditions, has now clarified his stance. Mukherjee insists that no Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) official or player made any specific requests regarding the pitch ahead of their first home game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Backing his position, Mukherjee emphasized that he has always maintained a strong working relationship with the KKR management and ownership.

“No official or player from KKR asked for a specific pitch requirement before the first game. A coach did inquire about the pitch’s behavior during practice, and I simply told him, ‘The pitch will turn, and it will also be good for batting,’” Sujan Mukherjee told Sports Tak. He further defended his role, asserting that he has never denied any requests and has consistently prepared pitches following BCCI guidelines. “People accusing me don’t understand the process,” he added.

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Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull, however, weighed in on the controversy, stating that a curator’s role is to create a pitch that aligns with the home team’s preferences rather than offering personal opinions. While KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane didn’t raise strong objections post-match, he did express a desire for more spin-friendly conditions at Eden Gardens.

When asked about the matter by RevSportz, Sujan Mukherjee stood firm on his approach. He reiterated that, under his supervision, Eden Gardens’ pitches would remain consistent. “According to IPL rules, franchises have no say in pitch preparation. Since I took charge, the pitch has remained the same, and it will continue to be,” he asserted.

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Defending the surface, Mukherjee pointed out that both teams’ spinners had an impact. “RCB’s spinners claimed four wickets, while KKR’s bowlers had mixed success. Krunal Pandya took three wickets, and Suyash Sharma managed to turn the ball sharply enough to bowl out Andre Russell,” he concluded.

With Eden Gardens historically favoring both spinners and stroke-makers, the debate over pitch conditions is unlikely to fade anytime soon, especially with KKR seeking an ideal home advantage in IPL 2025.