KKR Have No Say: Eden Gardens Curator Quotes BCCI; Claims To Be 'Sole Decision Maker' On How Pitch Is Prepared
Photo : AP
Kolkata Knight Riders have begun their campaign in the IPL 2025 off to a mixed start, with one win and one loss. There has been a controversy surrounding the pitch conditions at the Eden Gardens. According to several reports, the pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee refused the franchise's request to have a spin-friendly track in the first match vs RCB, which cost them the game, with their main bowler Varun Chakaravarthy going for 45 runs. After facing backlash from several quarters, Mukherjee has now stated that the rules stated by the BCCI make him the main decision maker on how the pitch should be.
In an interaction with RevSportz, Sujan Mukherjee said the BCCI rules clearly mention that the pitch curator is the sole decision-maker on how the pitch should be prepared. The franchise, KKR, and its players will not have any say in preparing the wicket. The BCCI chief curator is the only one who can intervene in this matter.
EXCLUSIVE: Eden Gardens Curator Responds To Pitch Row
"As per the BCCI guidelines, it is clearly mentioned that the pitch and ground preparation for all IPL regular season matches is the responsibility of the chief curator of the host association under the guidance from the BCCI-appointed venue curator, and they will be the sole decision-maker regarding the nomination of practice and match pitches, as is the case for first-class matches in India. It is also instructed that the franchises and players shall not have any say in the preparation of the wicket. The BCCI chief curator is available to give any advice that is required and will also be able to intervene if any issues arise," he said.
'Don't Care What Simon Doull Or Harsha Bhogle Say'
In an interaction with Cricbuzz, commentator Harsha Bhogle and former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull severely criticized Sujan Mukherjee for allegedly denying KKR with a turning track at Eden Gardens. Doull even went on to say that if this continues, then the franchise should consider moving away their home ground to somewhere else. Now, the Eden Gardens pitch curator has hit back at them for their comments.
"I do not have to bother about what Harsha Bhogle or Simon Doull said. What matters to me is what the spectators and my association say about the wicket. I am accountable to the BCCI for producing a good sporting wicket," Mukherjee went on to say.
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