Eden Gardens has long been home to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but Simon Doull on KKR Relocation has sparked debate by suggesting the franchise should move to a new venue. His remarks have stirred discussions among cricket fans and experts, making Simon Doull on KKR Relocation a hot topic in the cricketing world.
The issue arose when KKR’s captain, Ajinkya Rahane, approached the authorities to pitch the demand of having an Eden Gardens pitch that would favor turn before the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee turned down the request. “As long as I’m here, the pitch conditions will remain unchanged,” he said.
He also told “As per the BCCI guidelines, it is clearly mentioned that the pitch and ground preparation for all IPL regular season matches is the responsibility of the chief curator of the host association under the guidance from the BCCI-appointed venue curator, and they will be the sole decision-maker regarding the nomination of practice and match pitches, as is the case for first-class matches in India. It is also instructed that the franchises and players shall not have any say in the preparation of the wicket. The BCCI chief curator is available to give any advice that is required and will also be able to intervene if any issues arise,”
The debate also led Doull to wonder if KKR should continue to play at Eden Gardens.
“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” Simon Doull informed on Cricbuzz
After all, KKR is paying to use the facility, hence their comfort should be respected.
Famous cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle also supported the view that home teams should have some say over pitch conditions. According to him, a more meaningful advantage that holds excitement for the tournament results from a pitch befitting a particular team’s playing style.
Interestingly, KKR played their second match against the Rajasthan Royals at ACA Stadium, and there it was a neutral venue. They bundled off that opposition with a win margin of eight wickets and the highlight was Quinton de Kock, who landed an unbeaten 97 runs. This made everyone think KKR was looking for a new home where they would have more control over pitch conditions.
From day one of the IPL, it has been the home of KKR, the Eden Gardens, and now it carries emotional weight for the team and its supporters. But if the franchise thinks the pitch conditions hamper their chances of making it big, they will perhaps start looking for other options. For quite some time now, the debate has been going on. Will KKR push for more power over the pitch at Eden Gardens, or will they start looking for a new home ground? Only time will tell.
