Shocking U-turn! Kolkata Curator Sujan Mukherjee blames Ajinkya Rahane & KKR management after criticism

Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee has taken a U-turn on his earlier stance regarding the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and their pitch preferences. Sujan said that he never turned down any request from the franchise, adding that he has a strong rapport with both the management and the owners.

The controversy began after the Knight Riders suffered a defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 season opener in Kolkata. Following the loss, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane stated that they wanted a spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens, but a flat track was provided for their opening match.

Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy Struggled to Take Wickets in Kolkata

In an interview with RevSportz, Sujan Mukherjee made it clear that he would not change the pitch conditions based on any request. He stated that as long as he remained the curator, the track would stay as it was. He also took a dig at KKR’s spinners, pointing out that RCB’s bowlers performed better.

Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya bowled a match-winning spell. Krunal finished with an impressive figure of 3-29 on his franchise debut. Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma dismissed Andre Russell for just four runs before the death overs.

Meanwhile, KKR’s spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, struggled to take wickets while defending a target of 175. The duo combined for figures of 1-70 in their eight overs, as RCB comfortably chased down the total by the 17th over.

Under current regulations, pitch curators have authority over pitch preparation, making the final decisions regarding the playing surface.

No Official or Player Asked for the Pitch Requirement - Sujan Mukherjee

Sujan Mukherjee said that no KKR official or player approached him before their match against RCB. He added that the only inquiry came from a coach during a practice session, who asked about the pitch's behaviour.

"No official or player asked for the pitch requirement for the first match. A coach at the time of practice asked me about the behaviour of the pitch. I said ghumega bhi aur accha chalega (the pitch will turn, and it will be good for batting)," he told Sports Tak.

The Ajinkya Rahane-led team will take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in their next match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 31, Monday. Their next home match is against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 3.

I Never Denied Anything to KKR - Sujan Mukherjee

Sujan Mukherjee refuted the claims that he rejected any request from KKR. He stated that the pitch was prepared according to BCCI guidelines.

"I never denied anything to KKR. We have been in good relations for a long time. I prepared the pitch as per BCCI guidelines. Those who are accusing me know nothing," he added.

Kolkata Knight Riders have a good record at their home ground. They have won 52 out of 89 matches with a win percentage of 58.4.

They dominated at the venue in their title victory last season. The team suffered just two losses at home in 2024, both coming after remarkable run chases by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS).

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