‘Don’t know whether control is with franchise in other states’- Chandrakant Pandit opines on Eden Gardens pitch issue

Chandrakant Pandit, the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has responded to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Eden Gardens pitch by saying that although he would prefer conditions that benefit his team, the team has no influence over pitch preparation.

The 2025 season has seen a rise in the IPL’s home advantage issue as a number of captains and coaches have voiced worries about the state of the surface. Knight Riders have now played two games, winning an away game against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens. The defeat at home made many wonder if KKR could make the most of home conditions, especially when spinner Varun Chakravarthy faltered and let up 43 runs in four overs.

In the past, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane has expressed his preference for grounds that support his team’s bowling assault. Sujan Mukherjee, curator of Eden Gardens, disclosed that franchises had no influence over pitch preparation, citing BCCI regulations that give venue curators complete control over the task under the direction of the board’s designated representatives.

“Who wouldn’t be delighted by that? I mean, this is a straightforward response. You see, we play on whatever surface has been given to us as a coach or team manager. Naturally, [the] curator will be in charge of that control. And for now, our next game [against MI] which is tomorrow will undoubtedly be the main emphasis,” Pandit stated.

Most likely, we anticipate something beneficial to be offered: Chandrakant Pandit

In addition, Pandit enquired about how various states oversee their venues and if KKR had authority over the Eden Gardens field.

Not at all. Responsible for everything on the ground… I don’t know. The franchisees do not, however, have any control on wicket preparation. Last but not least, I have no idea how the system differs in various states or on various grounds, or if the franchise has control. As a team manager, coach, or captain, however, I believe that we currently demand something [useful] to be delivered in addition to the surface that is provided to us. Then that’s it,” he continued.

Stephen Fleming, the head coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), had already blasted the absence of home advantage at Chepauk, saying his team had had trouble anticipating the behaviour of the pitches. The Gujarat Titans’ assistant coach, Parthiv Patel, acknowledged that his team had asked for a black-soil surface for their match against the Mumbai Indians, citing the disparities in home pitch conditions between teams.