KKR Told To Move Home Away From Eden Gardens After Ajinkya Rahane-Curator Row

The Eden Gardens pitch curator has come under fire from former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull for his divisive comments made during the 2025 Indian Premier League.

If the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are unable to find pitches in the competition that play to their abilities, the commentator suggested that they think about moving their home base.

Eden Gardens curator defies KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane; refuses to alter pitch as per franchise demand

After the Kolkata Knight Riders' loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 opening, the team management became dissatisfied with the pitch conditions at Eden Gardens

“We would love to see the pitch helping the spin bowlers, but again, this wicket was under cover for the last one-and-a-half days. Both the spinners we have, the quality they have, they can bowl in any kind of wicket, and I am sure they are confident as well,” Ajinkya Rahane had said after KKR’s loss to RCB.

Despite Ajinkya Rahane's plea, pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee said the surface's characteristics would not change.

“As per the IPL rules and regulations, franchises have no say over the pitch. Ever since I have taken charge (as Eden curator), the pitches here have been like this. It was like this in the past. Things haven’t changed now, and it will not be altered in the future.

Their (RCB) spinners took four wickets between them. What did the KKR spinners do? Krunal Pandya got three wickets. Suyash Sharma turned the ball to castle Andre Russell,” Mukherjee told RevSportz.

They are paying for Eden Gardens facilities: Simon Doull says KKR should move home games from Kolkata

When preparing the surface, Simon Doull advised considering the needs of the host team. He went on to say that sharing thoughts about how the game should be played is not the curator's job.

"If he's not taking heed of what the home team wants... I mean, they are paying the stadium fees, they are paying for what's going on in the IPL, but if he's still not paying heed of what the home team wants, then just move the franchise away to somewhere else. His job is not to pass an opinion on the game. That's not what he's paid for," Doull said on Cricbuzz.

Harsha Bhogle was also unhappy with the way the Eden Gardens pitch curator refused to entertain KKR’s requests.

I'm Extremely Unhappy With What He Said - Harsha Bhogle

Home teams should have pitches that are suited to their bowlers' skills, said to seasoned analyst Harsha Bhogle during the conversation. He underlined that teams are looking for a balanced surface where their bowlers can perform well, not harsh circumstances for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

"RR, if they are playing at home, should get the tracks that they think are suited for their bowlers. So too with KKR. I saw something that the Kolkata Knight Riders curator said. If I'm in the KKR camp, I'm extremely unhappy with what he said because I'm not asking for a 120 surface.

I'm just saying, give me a surface where my bowlers can win matches. To say, 'sorry, we don't prepare pitches like that...' No. We are not asking you to make a 120 pitch, we are not asking you to make a 240 pitch. But I think home advantage in a tournament like the IPL is absolutely legitimate. That will enhance the tournament because winning away becomes crucial then," Bhogle said on Cricbuzz.

Glad that experts are talking about the matters.

-->. "His(The curator) job is not to pass a opinion on the game"🔥 pic.twitter.com/XnCVSYeTfl

— Deepjyoti De (@de_deepjyoti24) March 26, 2025

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