'Move your franchise away to somewhere else, His job is not to pass opinion..': NZ legend slams Eden Gardens pitch curator after refusal of KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane's request

Cricket experts are not pleased with Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee's direct denial of Ajinkya Rahane's request to prepare spin-friendly surfaces. Rahane expressed his desire to see a spin-friendly surface at Eden Gardens that would complement his team's strengths after the KKR vs RCB game. Mukherjee, however, flatly refused to accommodate any such requests, stating that the pitch would not alter until he is in charge.

Harsha Bhogle, a cricket analyst, expressed disapproval of Mujerjeee's remark and stated that he would have been extremely upset if he had been a member of the KKR team following the pitch curator's comment. Rahane did not ask the curator to construct a 120 pitch, according to Bhogle, but it is acceptable to request a pitch that plays to the home team's advantages.

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"If I'm in the KKR camp, I'm extremely unhappy of what he said because I'm not asking for a 120 surface. I'm just saying, give me a surface where my bowlers can win matches. To say, 'sorry, we don't prepare pitches like that...' No. We are not asking you to make a 120 pitch, we are not asking you to make a 240 pitch. But I think home advantage in a tournament like IPL is absolutely legitimate. That will enhance the tournament because winning away becomes crucial then," Bhogle said in a Cricbuzz show.

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull was also unimpressed with the remarks from the curator and lashed out at him by saying that KKR should relocate their base from Eden Gardens if the curator is unwilling to comply with the home team's demands.

“If he is not taking heed of what the home team wants, then just move your franchise away to somewhere else. His job is not to pass opinion on a game. That’s not what he’s getting paid for,” Doull said.

Kolkata Knight Riders faced a defeat in the tournament opener, which was being played at their home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, the defending champions bounced back with a great win against Rajasthan Royals in their second clash, which was played at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.