Former umpire-turned-analyst Simon Doull has tipped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to move away from their home ground — Eden Gardens — after their curator Sujan Mukherjee has decided against changing the pitch.
KKR lost their inaugural clash against RCB at home but bounced back in an away venue against RR in their second match.
“If he’s (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. His job is not to pass an opinion on the game. That’s not what he’s paid for,” Doull added on Cricbuzz.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane had requested for a spin-friendly pitch after their loss against RCB.
“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,” he said at the post-match press conference, adding: “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.”
To which, Sujan Mukherjee, the curator said: “As per the IPL rules and regulations, franchises have no say over the pitch,” he told RevSportz. “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.”
Mukherjee was given the role by then Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly after Prabir Mukherjee had walked out following a washed out T20I between India and South Africa on October 8, 2015.
He has been nurturing the Eden Gardens for nearly a decade now.
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