In the wake of the ongoing controversies surrounding the pitch conditions at Eden Gardens, Sujan Mukherjee, the chief curator, has made headlines with his recent statements regarding the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Following KKR’s disappointing performance in their IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where they lost by a significant margin, Mukherjee has clarified that no official or player from KKR made any requests for specific pitch requirements prior to the match.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy began when KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed a desire for a spin-friendly pitch to aid his bowlers.
After the defeat to RCB, Rahane indicated that he hoped for conditions that would favor spin bowling in future matches.
However, Mukherjee initially claimed that he had refused to accommodate such requests, leading to a backlash from fans and analysts alike.
In a stunning turn of events, Mukherjee reversed his earlier statements, asserting that he never denied any requests from KKR.
He emphasized that no one from the team had approached him with specific requirements for the pitch ahead of their match against RCB.
“No official or player asked for the pitch requirement for the first match. A coach at the time of practice asked me about the behavior of the pitch. I said ghumega bhi aur accha chalega (the pitch will turn, and it will be good for batting),” he explained in an interview with Sports Tak.
Defending His Position
Mukherjee has maintained that he has always prepared pitches according to the guidelines set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and has had a positive relationship with KKR over the years.
“I never denied anything to KKR. We have been in good relations for a long time,” he stated.
His comments suggest that any accusations against him regarding pitch preparation stem from misunderstandings rather than factual discrepancies.
Despite facing criticism for his initial remarks about franchises not having a say in pitch preparation, Mukherjee defended his stance by highlighting that KKR’s bowlers failed to capitalize on the conditions during their match against RCB.
He pointed out that while RCB’s spinners took four wickets, KKR’s bowlers did not perform up to expectations, implying that the issue lay more with KKR’s execution than with the pitch itself.
