Ajinkya Rahane, captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has sparked a fresh debate over the pitch at Eden Gardens following his team’s narrow four-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The match, which took place in Kolkata, saw LSG amassing a formidable total of 238/3, while KKR finished at 234/7, marking their second defeat in three home games this IPL season.
In the post-match press conference, Rahane expressed his disappointment over the pitch conditions, pointing out that they did not favor spinners. ‘Firstly, there was no help for the spinners, let me clear that,’ he declared. He acknowledged the effective strategy employed by LSG, especially Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, who capitalized on the longer boundaries and utilized the conditions to their advantage.
KKR’s spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, struggled significantly in the match, unable to claim a single wicket and conceding runs at an economy rate over nine per over. This poor performance from the spinners added fuel to the discussion surrounding the effectiveness and preparation of the pitch at Eden Gardens.
Rahane was cautious not to ignite a full-blown controversy, hinting at previous instances where pitch discussions have escalated. ‘See, there’s been enough talk about the wicket. Aap logon ne bahut usko yeh kar diya hai. Toh agar main abhi kuch bolunga na, toh bawal ho jayega. (You people have already hyped it up a lot. So if I say anything now, it will create a big controversy),’ he remarked. He further stated his preference to convey any concerns directly to the IPL authorities rather than fueling public debate.
Despite the controversy, Rahane remained focused on his cricketing journey and enjoyment on the field. ‘I’m really enjoying my cricket at the moment, firstly playing for KKR and playing at the Eden. For me, it’s all about staying in the moment, enjoying my cricket, enjoying my batting, and that’s it. I don’t want to think far too ahead,’ he concluded, reflecting on his aspirations for an India comeback and his current role in the IPL.