"Don't Bother About Harsha Bhogle Or Simon Doull": Curator's Sharp Retort On KKR-Pitch Controversy

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) want a pitch that is better suited to their spinners - Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and others - but the curator believes the players just aren't able to use the surface well enough. Since KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane spoke of better assistance from the Eden Gardens curator in preparing a spin-friendly wicket, the topic has triggered a lot of opinions, prompting even commentators like Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull to share their opinion.

Doull even went on to say that KKR should move out of Eden Gardens and find a new venue where their pitch preferences are heard and implemented by the curators. Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee, however, doesn't feel he needs to listen to what Harsha and Doull have to say on the topic, as his job is purely to do what has been mentioned in the BCCI guidelines.

"As per the BCCI guidelines, it is clearly mentioned that the pitch and ground preparation for all IPL regular season matches is the responsibility of the chief curator of the host association under the guidance from the BCCI-appointed venue curator, and they will be the sole decision-maker regarding the nomination of practice and match pitches, as is the case for first-class matches in India. It is also instructed that the franchises and players shall not have any say in the preparation of the wicket. The BCCI chief curator is available to give any advice that is required and will also be able to intervene if any issues arise," he said in a chat with RevSportz.

"I do not have to bother about what Harsha Bhogle or Simon Doull said. What matters to me is what the spectators and my association say about the wicket. I am accountable to the BCCI for