In a high-octane clash, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fell short by just 4 runs despite a valiant chase. Captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front with a solid half-century. Venkatesh Iyer contributed with a strong knock, while Sunil Narine gave the team an explosive start, scoring 30 off just 13 balls. Rinku Singh fought till the final over, but last season’s IPL champions could only manage 234 in reply.
The narrow defeat has reignited discussions around the Eden Gardens pitch.
Ajinkya Rahane Takes a Dig at Eden Gardens Pitch Curator
Following KKR’s opening defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rahane publicly voiced concerns about the Eden Gardens surface. He preferred a turning track that supports spinners over a flat batting wicket. “I want a pitch that offers assistance to spinners. It was under covers for one and a half days,” Rahane had said.
Pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee didn’t take Rahane’s comments lightly. Defending his approach, he stated, “Since I’ve taken charge, this is the kind of wicket we’ve had. Nothing has changed, and there won’t be any changes in the future either.” However, after discussions with the KKR franchise, the pitch was made drier ahead of the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, leading to a favorable outcome for Kolkata.
472 Runs Scored in a Single Match: Is Eden Losing Its Home Advantage?
The recent encounter against Lucknow Super Giants reignited the pitch debate. A combined total of 472 runs was scored across both innings, and spinners were visibly ineffective. Sunil Narine couldn’t complete his 4-over spell, while Varun Chakravarthy also looked off rhythm.
This raised the question once again — is KKR truly enjoying a home advantage this season? At the post-match press conference, Rahane replied with sarcasm, “There’s a lot of talk about the pitch. If I speak openly, it could cause trouble. Our curator has gained quite a bit of publicity — maybe he’s happy about that. Write whatever you want about home advantage. If I have anything to say, I’ll tell the IPL officials directly, not here.”
Could KKR Move Away from Eden Gardens?
Former cricketers Simon Doull and Harsha Bhogle have also voiced concerns over the pitch. On a Cricbuzz show, Doull said, “If the franchise is paying to use the stadium but the curator refuses to provide a pitch that suits the home team, it’s time to consider relocating.”
After the win against Sunrisers, the pitch controversy cooled down temporarily, but KKR’s latest loss to Lucknow has brought it back into the spotlight. If their demand for spin-friendly tracks continues to be denied, there is growing speculation that the franchise may shift base from Kolkata.
The Barabati Stadium in Cuttack has emerged as a potential new home for KKR. Even Tripura has shown interest in hosting the franchise, thanks to a brand-new stadium in Agartala. Could Shah Rukh Khan’s team be on the move? Only time will tell.