KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane avoided addressing the topic of the Kolkata pitch and their potential home-field advantage, commenting instead that the Kolkata curator had garnered ample attention. Sujan Mukherjee, the Eden Gardens pitch curator, found himself in the limelight. Following his public statement that no team would have the authority to set conditions regarding track preparation for the famous event venue.
This sparked discussions about teams receiving home advantage in the IPL, with LSG mentor Zaheer Khan criticizing the Lucknow curator following the PBKS defeat. During his remarks at the post-match press conference, he addressed this issue. The 4-run defeat against LSG Rahane was questioned about whether 'home advantage' exists during the tournament. He chose not to comment, fearing controversy might arise from his remarks. Rahane stated that should he have any thoughts on the matter, he would directly communicate them to the IPL and relevant officials.
IPL 2025 Coverage | IPL Points Table | IPL Schedule
"There’s been plenty of discussion around the pitch. You’ve all provided ample coverage of it. Should I comment, it would likely stir controversy. Our curator has received significant attention, which I believe makes him content. Feel free to discuss the advantages of playing at home. If I have any thoughts, I’ll share them directly with the IPL instead of speaking publicly,” stated Rahane.
Rahane has the backing of Kohli and Dhoni at Eden Gardens.
Rahane was questioned regarding howVirat Kohli and MS Dhoni receive greater backing at Eden Gardens compared to the local team. The captain of Kolkata mentioned that this occurrence is typical due to the accomplishments of these two players, adding that the encouragement from the hometown fans has indeed been remarkable.
"You mentioned Virat and Dhoni. They've accomplished a great deal and serve as inspirations, making it entirely understandable. However, the backing from KKR has been phenomenal for our team. Their unwavering support and enthusiasm are always present. Whenever a player of MS’s caliber joins, fans naturally wish to see them play—this is typical," stated Rahane.
Rahane addressed the defeat and mentioned that maintaining positivity is key.
"It's all about staying positive. We played good cricket — chasing 230 and getting that close isn't easy. Everyone had great intent and attitude. In the dressing room, we're focused on the positives — Sunil's start in the powerplay was amazing. Every game is a learning, win or lose. We move on, we learn, and we keep looking forward," said Rahane.
KKR is set to play against CSK in Chennai on April 11th, which falls on a Friday.