 "Eden Gardens curator slams Simon Doull, cites BCCI rules to defend pitch preparation: ‘It felt bad’")
Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee has finally broken his silence on the criticism he has faced for failing to provide spin-friendly pitches for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
The controversy began after KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane complained about a lack of support from the home pitch at Eden Gardens following a defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 opener. KKR spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was hit for 43 runs in four overs in that game.
“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,” Rahane said after losing against RCB. “Both the spinners we have, the quality they have, they can bowl on any kind of wicket, and I am sure they are confident as well.”
Eden Gardens curator ‘hurt’ by criticism against ‘sporting’ track
Reacting to the blame game, Sujan has said that he has always tried to prepare sporting tracks, however, the Eden Gardens pitch did offer spin in the IPL 2025 opener but KKR bowlers failed to make full use of it.
“I do not follow social media. But when I heard what was being said about me, it felt bad. I have always tried to prepare a sporting track where there is something for everyone – batters, pacers and spinners,” he told RevSportz.
“There was turn on offer in the pitch for the first match against RCB. And KKR have good pacers in their side like last season. All I am trying to say is if you watch the first match, there was some turn as well, especially the way Andre Russell got dismissed. I repeat that there was spin on offer for the first game against RCB. It is up to the players to utilise the conditions,” he added.
Sujan feels preparing a rank turned could backfire and is willing to have a word with KKR management once they are back in the city after their match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“There has been help for the spinners here. If we make rank turners, then it might backfire. Spectators come to the ground to watch a good entertaining cricket where there is help for everyone. There will be a bit more help for the spinners in the upcoming matches,” Sujan said. “Everyone is welcome to me. Even the association is always willing to help. There has always been a good rapport between the state association (CAB) and the franchise. The KKR management also has a fair idea about the wicket and conditions on offer at Eden over the last few seasons since I took charge. Once the team returns from Mumbai, surely, we can have a discussion and I will see what best I can do.”
Sujan slams Simon Doull over Kolkata pitch commnets
Sujan also slammed former New Zealand cricketer and expert Simon Doull who has suggested that KKR should consider “moving the franchise away somewhere else.”
“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,” Sujan said.
He further explained the BCCI guidelines. “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 added.
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