Tensions have flared within the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp following their narrow 4-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 21st match of IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens. Captain Ajinkya Rahane, clearly displeased with the pitch conditions, hinted at escalating the matter to the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council.
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KKR Fall Just Short in High-Scoring Thriller
In a high-octane encounter, KKR nearly pulled off a record chase after LSG posted a mammoth 238/3. Despite a spirited effort, KKR fell short by just 4 runs, finishing at 234/7. The loss sparked further frustration within the camp, especially around the nature of the pitch provided for the game.
Eden Gardens Pitch Row Resurfaces
The controversy surrounding pitch preparation at Eden Gardens has been simmering since KKR’s loss to RCB earlier in the season. KKR management reportedly clashed with Eden curator Sujan Mukherjee, demanding a pitch that would favor their potent spin attack. However, their requests were met with resistance.
While KKR were granted a spin-friendly pitch in the following match against SRH, their request for a used pitch in the game against LSG was declined, reigniting the feud.
Ajinkya Rahane’s Sharp Remarks on the Curator
Post-match, Rahane didn’t mince words while addressing the issue. During the press conference, the KKR skipper took a dig at the Eden curator, saying:
“Main kuch bolunga to bawaal ho jayega (If I say something, it’ll create an uproar). The media has already made it a big thing. The curator has already gotten a lot of publicity and I think he enjoys that. So I’ll not say anything around the wicket here and will rather say it to the IPL.”
Rahane’s cryptic yet bold remarks indicate that KKR will be lodging a formal complaint with the IPL authorities over the ongoing issue.
“Sunil Narine Was Struggling With the Ball” – Rahane
Speaking to the broadcasters after the match, Rahane admitted the team gave their all but fell just short. He praised the batting surface and said both teams had a fair chance:
“A really tight one. The wicket remained good throughout the 40 overs. We gave our best, it was a great game, in the end we were just 4 runs short.”
He also highlighted Sunil Narine’s rare off-day with the ball as a critical factor:
“The bowling attack we have usually controls the middle overs well. But Sunil (Narine) was struggling with the ball today. When he and Varun (Chakravarthy) don’t click, it becomes tough.”
KKR’s Dominance in Reverse Fixture
Ironically, KKR had blown LSG away in their previous encounter at Lucknow earlier in the season. Thanks to a blazing 81 by Sunil Narine and a strong all-round performance, KKR posted 235/6 and bundled out LSG for just 137 to claim a commanding 98-run victory.
That performance further fueled expectations of a spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens — expectations that, according to KKR, were not met.
What’s Next for KKR?
With the pitch controversy brewing and Ajinkya Rahane ready to take formal action, this issue could spark further debate over the role of home curators and team influence. KKR will now look to bounce back, but the bigger battle might just be off the field.
Whether the IPL Governing Council will step in or not remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the pitch talk at Eden Gardens is far from over.
