Ajinkya Rahane, captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), refrained from publicly commenting on the Eden Gardens pitch, citing concerns that his remarks might stir controversy. His comments came in the aftermath of KKR’s narrow 4-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday.
The statement came on a day when a staggering 472 runs were scored over 40 overs with just 10 wickets falling — highlighting the batting-friendly nature of the pitch. This development follows a recent disagreement between the franchise and Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee, who reportedly wanted a spin-friendly track to capitalize on home advantage.
In an earlier clash against SRH, KKR had been presented with a choice between two dry pitches, both left unwatered for five days. Opting for the drier surface, they successfully bowled out SRH for just 120 runs, sealing a commanding 80-run win.
When asked about the surface used in the game against LSG, Ajinkya Rahane dodged direct criticism but appeared to subtly reference the ongoing tensions. He said:
“There have been enough talks over the wicket here. Main kuch bolunga to bawaal ho jayega (If I say anything, it’ll lead to a big controversy).”
“Let’s just keep it that way. Our curator has got a lot of publicity. I think he’s happy with that publicity. You can write whatever you want about the home advantage. If I feel something, I’ll tell the IPL rather than talking here. I’ll talk to the concerned authorities.”
Defending Champions Lose Third Match, Struggle at Home
The defending champions have now suffered their third defeat in five matches this season, with two of those losses occurring at home. Their sole home win came on a sluggish pitch against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Although vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and head coach Chandrakant Pandit have recently expressed a preference for leveraging home conditions, team mentor Dwayne Bravo appeared unfazed, stating that the squad was well-equipped to perform on any surface and wasn’t overly worried about the pitch.
“For me, the team who plays the best on the day will win,” Bravo had said ahead of the game against SRH. “So, whether the pitch is slow, whether it’s turning, whether it’s not turning, my advice to the players will always be to make the necessary assessments, and play according to the conditions.”
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