“There’s no fight with the KKR management,” clarified Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee. The whole pitch issue with points and counterpoints seems to have thawed and RevSportz understands that Kolkata Knight Riders are likely to get a surface to their liking for their next home match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 3.
After RevSportz exclusively reported that Mukherjee has refused to budge as regards the nature of the pitches at Eden, on the heels of Ajinkya Rahane’s comment at the press conference, asking for more spin-friendly decks, ‘surface tension’ rose and KKR’s ‘home advantage’ became a subject of national debate. The curator has now clarified his stand.
“First up, there’s no fight between me and the KKR management, I have a very good relationship with all of them,” Mukherjee told RevSportz. “I have known Rahane since his early days and he didn’t say anything wrong at the press conference. He said he would like to see a bit more turn on the pitch and as a captain he is entitled to that.”
But will Mukherjee now accede to the KKR camp’s request, if there’s any as regards the pitch before the SRH game? “They are on the road now. Let them return, and if they want to have a word with me, I’m open to listening to their viewpoint,” he said, adding: “I also confirm that there’s absolutely no official complaint from the KKR with regards to the Eden pitch.”
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According to sources, the pitch for the SRH game could be drier, with the spinners coming a lot more into play. With Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy being the trump cards for the defending IPL champions, they are likely to get the so-called ‘home advantage’.
Earlier, after a seven-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL opener, Rahane told reporters: “We would love to see some spin on this wicket but again, no complaints.”
Mukherjee, in response to that, told RevSportz: “As long as I’m here, Eden Gardens pitch will not change.”
KKR beat Rajasthan Royals in their second match in Guwahati on a pitch that was a bit tacky, where their spinners held sway. Varun and Moeen Ali set up their team’s win with two wickets apiece and being miserly.
Pitch-wise, something similar is expected for the SRH game.
Also Read: Suggesting KKR should leave Eden Gardens behind is outrageous
Eden Gardens pitch will not change, says curator Sujan Mukherjee