 "Ground staff taking the covers off the pitch before a match in IPL 2025. Image: Reuters")
The debate over pitch preparation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has intensified after recent comments from players and franchise officials questioning their lack of control over home conditions. The controversy reignited following Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan’s criticism of the pitch curators at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium after their 8-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS).
This comes after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane revealed that his request for spin-friendly tracks at Eden Gardens was denied ahead of the IPL 2025 season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
IPL franchises and experts express discontent
Some franchise officials and commentators believe that home teams in IPL should have some level of influence over the playing surface as it is a common practice in other global T20 leagues and bilateral series.
Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle supported KKR’s viewpoint, saying, “If they are playing at home, they should get the tracks that they think are suited for their bowlers. I saw something that the KKR curator has 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’ is not acceptable.”
Bhogle further argued that home advantage plays a vital role in making the tournament more competitive: “Winning away then becomes crucial, and that enhances the quality of the IPL.”
LSG mentor Zaheer Khan, on the other hand, was disappointed with the conditions at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium and hinted that the curators did not consider the home team’s strengths. “In IPL, you’ve seen how teams have looked at taking a little bit of home advantage. From that point of view, it seemed like the curator was not really thinking that it was a home game.”
Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull also slammed the curator for denying KKR’s request, adding that the franchise should move away from the Eden Gardens if they don’t get the pitch as per their liking.
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More Shorts“If he (the curator) is 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,” Doull told Cricbuzz.
What do the BCCI rules say?
As per the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) guidelines, the responsibility for pitch and ground preparation for all IPL regular season matches lies solely with the chief curator of the host association under the guidance of the BCCI-appointed venue curator. The franchises and players are barred from influencing pitch preparation.
Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee confirmed this to Revsportz, stating, “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. They are the sole decision-makers regarding the nomination of practice and match pitches, as is the case for first-class matches in India.”
Mukherjee further added, “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.”
The tension between franchises and curators over pitch preparation is not new but the latest statements suggest that teams are getting frustrated with the lack of home advantage in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.