 "No Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull at Kolkata's Eden Gardens for remainder of IPL 2025; here's why")
Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull will not be sitting in the commentary box in the remaining matches of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens starting with Monday’s meeting between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Veteran commentator Bhogle and former New Zealand pacer Doull have been red-flagged by Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) following their comments on KKR’s perceived lack of support at the Eden Gardens. Doull had gone to the extent of stating that the Ajinkya Rahane-led side should look move out of the iconic venue and look for another home venue.
CAB has written a strongly-worded letter to the BCCI urging the apex body to bar Bhogle and Doull from commentating in Kolkata in the remainder of the season. The BCCI has reportedly agreed to their request, but is yet to make an official announcement on the same.
Neither Bhogle nor Doull have reacted to the development.
What Bhogle and Doull had said on KKR’s alleged lack of support at the Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee had come under scrutiny after KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane had complained regarding the lack of spin-friendly wickets at their home venue, with mystery leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy and veteran off-spinner Sunil Narine being key components of their bowling unit.
The issue first came to light following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's clinical seven-wicket victory over the home team in the season opener on 22 March, in which Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood thrived on what was a pitch that had a fair amount of support for seamers. Chakravarthy, on the other hand, had conceded 43 runs in that game.
Mukherjee, however, had defended his decision to prepare a "sporting track" instead of a turning wicket in order to allow batters, pacers as well as spinners something to work with, and “felt bad” about the criticism that was directed towards him from the KKR camp.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“If he’s (the curator) 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 had said on Cricbuzz recently.
“If they are playing at home, (they) should get the tracks that they think are suited for their bowlers. I saw something (about) what the KKR curator has said,” Bhogle added on the matter.
Eden Gardens is scheduled to host six more matches in the remainder of the 18th IPL season, including the upcoming match against GT as well as Qualifier 2 and the final.
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