A new controversy seems to get ignited in IPL 2025 including defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders. Notably, KKR were handed seven-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening game of the season at Eden Gardens on March 22. RCB made the target of 175 runs look like cake walk and won the match within 17 overs. After the match, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane called for more spin-friendly pitches. However, the pitch curator at Eden Gardens refused to make any changes.
“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,” Rahane said at the press conference after the KKR versus RCB clash. Reacting to Rahane’ comments, Edens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee said that he will not make any changes in the pitch.
“As long as I’m here, Eden Gardens pitch will not change,” Mukherjee said in his latest interview with Revsportz. “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,” he continued.
RCB spinners took four wickets, what did KKR spinners do? Eden Gardens pitch curator
Despite being the home side, KKR couldn’t take advantage of the pitch in the match against RCB. Speaking further, Sujan Mukherjee also pointed out that the RCB spinners including the likes of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma took four wickets in the match. However, spin bowlers from KKR, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy also took a wicket each but couldn’t make an impact in the game.
“Their (RCB) spinners took four wickets between them,” he said. “What did the KKR spinners do? Krunal Pandya got three wickets. Suyash Sharma turned the ball to castle Andre Russell,” Sujan Mukherjee said.
