On Kolkata Pitch Debate, KKR Star's Honest Take: "Don't Believe It Should..."

Kolkata Knight Riders vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer doesn't believe in preparing specific pitches at home turf; as a professional cricketer, he intends to adjust to whatever is on offer. However, he admitted that it would be good for the defending champions if the conditions at Eden Gardens match their requirements. The heated debate about home advantage against a fighting strip began when Eden pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee denied the franchise skipper Ajinkya Rahane's request to prepare spin-friendly tracks in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

KKR skipper's remark came after the defending champions' prime weapon, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, was pummelled and clobbered during their 43-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the lung-opener of the cash-rich league.

Rahane's deputy, Venkatesh, weighed in on the home advantage against a competitive turf after KKR's commanding 80-run triumph against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden. According to him, as a cricketer, he believes in adjusting to the conditions on offer but admitted it would be an advantage if they get what they want at Eden.

"We bowled very well. We used conditions well. We used the pitch conditions well. I don't believe the pitch should be like this or that; we are professional cricketers, so we will adjust to it. But yeah, if we get the conditions we want in our home, it will be good for us," Venkatesh said in the post-match press conference.

Even KKR's mantra for success was about adjusting and adapting to the conditions after being put to bat by the Sunrisers. After an entertaining fifty from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh and Rinku Singh spent time on the crease to alter Hyderabad's perception of the chase.

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