Mumbai: Even as he sought to downplay the ongoing controversy regarding the pitch conditions at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Chandrakant Pandit acknowledged that every team appreciates any home advantage it gets. He also emphasised that it was only natural for KKR’s head coach and captain, Ajinkya Rahane, to “expect something to be provided” at their home ground.
The pitch debate erupted after KKR captain Rahane expressed a preference for spin-friendly wickets at Eden Gardens. However, the stadium’s curator, Sujan Mukherjee, maintained that franchises have no say in pitch preparation.
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Speaking on Sunday ahead of KKR’s third IPL 2025 match against Mumbai Indians, Pandit, while responding to a question about whether home teams should get pitches tailored to their advantage, said, “Who wouldn’t be happy about that?”
Earlier in the press conference, when asked about the issue, Pandit stressed that his focus remained on the upcoming match.
“As a coach and team management, we play on whatever surface is provided to us. The curator is in control. I am not thinking about what should be done or who controls what. Let’s focus on the match,” Pandit said.
However, the discussion also touched upon a broader point: Should franchises influence pitch conditions at their home venues? Since IPL teams lease stadiums and invest significantly, they naturally expect some level of home advantage.
Responding to this, Pandit stated, “That doesn’t necessarily mean they have control over pitch preparation. Of course, as team management, coach, and captain, we do expect something to be provided. That’s all,” he concluded.
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