The discussion about home advantage in IPL 2025 isn't going away anytime soon. Following Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) narrow four-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, captain Ajinkya Rahane directed his frustration at the local curator, Sujan Mukherjee. During the post-match press conference, when asked if the defending champions had enough of a home advantage, Rahane gave a sharp reply.

This issue first arose after KKR's loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament's opening match. Rahane had voiced his wish for the Eden Gardens pitch to support spinners. However, Mukherjee stated that he wasn't required to change the pitch conditions for the home team and would only follow the BCCI's directives.

After facing criticism on social media, Mukherjee seemed to shift his stance, expressing a willingness to create a spinning-friendly pitch for KKR in Kolkata. Yet, in the match against LSG, the pitch offered little assistance to the spinners.

When questioned about the perceived lack of home advantage, Rahane remarked, "There's been plenty of chatter about the wicket. You all have discussed it extensively. If I comment now, it will just stir up more controversy. Our curator has received a lot of attention, and I think he enjoys it."

He added, "Feel free to write whatever you want about home advantage. If I have something to say on that topic, I’d rather discuss it with the governing council or the relevant authorities instead of here."

When asked about the spinners' performance in the match, Rahane was straightforward, stating, “First off, there was no assistance for the spinners. Let me make that clear.”

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have achieved a great deal

At the press conference, Rahane was asked about the Kolkata crowd's lack of support for KKR when teams like Chennai Super Kings or RCB visit. He emphasized the significance of what Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have contributed to Indian cricket, explaining that it's only natural for fans to rally behind them when they play in Kolkata.

"You mentioned Virat and MS. They've achieved so much for our country, so it's only expected that fans come out to support them. That's completely understandable. The backing from KKR fans has been fantastic," Rahane remarked.

"They're always there for us. The vibe and energy in the stadium have been incredible. When Virat or MS are in town, it's just natural for the crowd to cheer for them," he continued.

On the topic of KKR, the defending champions recently suffered their third defeat of the IPL 2025 season, losing to Lucknow Super Giants by four runs. Despite strong performances from Rahane and Rinku Singh, KKR couldn't manage to chase down a target of 239.

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