Sujan Mukherjee, the pitch curator at Eden Gardens, finally spoke out on Monday after facing criticism for turning down Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane's request for a spin-friendly pitch ahead of the IPL 2025 season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He referenced BCCI regulations while also taking a jab at former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull, who suggested KKR should look for a new venue.

KKR's management was reportedly frustrated with Sujan's decision, especially since their key bowler, Varun Chakaravarthy, was hit for 43 runs in just four overs during the match against RCB.

In an interview with RevSportz, Sujan acknowledged that the backlash was tough to handle but insisted that the pitch did provide opportunities for spin, even if KKR didn’t capitalize on them.

"I don’t really keep up with social media, but hearing the comments about me was disheartening. My goal has always been to create a balanced pitch that benefits everyone—batsmen, fast bowlers, and spinners," he explained.

There was some turn available on the pitch during the first match against RCB, and KKR has solid pacers just like last season. What I'm saying is, if you caught the first match, you would have noticed the spin, especially with how Andre Russell got out. I want to emphasize that there was definitely spin in that game against RCB. It's really up to the players to make the most of the conditions, he mentioned.

Sujan also pointed out that while creating a pitch that turns a lot could be risky for KKR, he’s open to discussing it with the Kolkata management after their game against the Mumbai Indians on Monday.

"There’s been some assistance for spinners here. If we go for extreme turners, it could backfire. Fans come to enjoy a good, entertaining game of cricket where everyone gets a fair chance. I expect there will be even more help for spinners in the upcoming matches," he said. "I’m always open to discussions. The association is also eager to assist. There’s been a strong relationship between the state association (CAB) and the franchise. The KKR management has a good understanding of the pitch and conditions at Eden over the past few seasons since I took over. Once the team is back from Mumbai, we can definitely chat, and I’ll see what I can do."

'Don't care what Simon Doull said'

In light of the increasing criticism regarding the absence of a home advantage for IPL teams, Sujan reiterated the BCCI's stance, emphasizing that teams and players shouldn't influence pitch preparations.

"The BCCI guidelines clearly state that the chief curator of the host association is responsible for pitch and ground preparation for all IPL regular season games, with oversight from the BCCI-appointed venue curator. They are the only ones who decide on practice and match pitches, just like in first-class matches in India. Franchises and players have no say in how the wicket is prepared. The BCCI chief curator is available for any necessary advice and can step in if any problems arise," he explained.

Sujan also took a jab at Doull, who suggested that KKR should seek a new home due to their pitch concerns.

"I don’t really care about what Harsha Bhogle or Simon Doull have to say. What’s important to me is the feedback from the fans and my association regarding the wicket. I’m responsible to the BCCI for ensuring a quality playing surface."

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