Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to face off within the fifteenth match of IPL 2025 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Thursday, April 3. With each groups struggling to achieve momentum this season, the match is overshadowed by ongoing controversies surrounding the pitch.
Pitch controversy takes centre stage
The Eden Gardens pitch has been a contentious subject, with KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane expressing his need for a floor that favours spin bowlers. “We might like to see the pitch serving to the spin bowlers,” he mentioned, emphasizing the significance of KKR’s spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.
Nevertheless, Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee has resisted altering the pitch to go well with KKR’s preferences, stating that the floor will stay impartial as per BCCI laws.
This disagreement has drawn criticism from cricket specialists, with some suggesting that KKR lacks dwelling benefit at Eden Gardens. Former gamers like Simon Doull have even proposed relocating the franchise if their requests proceed to be ignored.
KKR’s expectations and changes
KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit acknowledged the challenges posed by the pitch however remained centered on adapting to circumstances. “In the meanwhile, what I perceive is the floor which is given to us… in all probability we anticipate one thing [helpful] to be offered,” Pandit remarked.
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In the meantime, group mentor Dwayne Bravo urged gamers to deal with efficiency quite than pitch circumstances. “The group that performs the most effective will win – whether or not it’s sluggish, it’s turning, or not turning,” he informed reporters in Kolkata.
“For me, my language to the gamers will all the time be to make the mandatory changes for the circumstances. And what helps us with dwelling benefit is the followers. I believe that’s extra essential than how the pitch performs. I cannot actually remark a lot about pitches. As soon as the followers are there into the sport and cheering us on, that makes a distinction,” Bravo added.