BCCI's Role in IPL Pitch Conditions-A Balanced Approach

Indian Premier League is the biggest cricket league in the world. It has players from various countries competing against each other in a pressure-cooker setup. One of the most critical aspects of every match is the [pitch condition]. The [pitch] preparation could determine the match. Sanjay Bangar, the former Indian batting coach, has also shared his opinion on it. He believes that [franchises] should have a say in the preparation of pitches but [BCCI] also has to have a say if there has to be fair play. He fears that [franchises] may go crazy and prepare one-sided pitches for their teams if not checked, so the game becomes uneven. He elucidates that some degree of [uniformity] has to be present so that neither side gets too much of a [home advantage].

Sanjay Bangar was a special guest on ESPNcricinfo's IPL program, Time Out, on why the [BCCI] need to have authority over [pitch conditions]. India does have an array of varied types of soils, like red soil and black soil, which would naturally result in different kinds of playing surfaces. This variation creates cricket interesting. But he believes some [direction] or [guidance] by the [BCCI] is required to be in balance. Clubs, with no authority at all, can place bids that are too reliant on their strengths. That would give one team a one-sided benefit and lead to an imperfect contest. Some [regulations] on paper so to speak could be the reason why the tournament is competitive and worthwhile for all.

He also mentioned that there are some stadiums which don't have a lot of choice when it comes to [pitch preparation]. One such stadium is the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It only has two pitches on which IPL matches can be conducted because it's a small stadium. Due to this cause, it is more difficult to prepare different kinds of [pitches] there. The teams that play there have less scope. If any team was excessively using control, it would take away the game's element of surprise. This is why he believes that if there is a systematic measure followed and then the [BCCI] makes sense.

There has been a row with respect to [pitch conditions] in IPL 2025. There are several team coaches who have made a comment about it. Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Chandrakant Pandit has explained that his team has very little control over the preparation of Eden Gardens' pitch. What this implies is that, in certain instances, the home teams have fewer than one might anticipate in terms of control over the [pitch conditions]. Chennai Super Kings team head coach Stephen Fleming has also stepped in to disprove rumors that his team enjoys a huge [home advantage] at Chepauk. He claimed that his own team had, at times, found it difficult to take care of their own backyard [pitch]. That is to say theory of a [home advantage] does hold but, for that matter, is not every time an absolute consideration.

Lucknow Super Giants coach Zaheer Khan was one of the coaches who also commented on what irks him about the [Ekana pitch]. Since his team lost a game to Punjab Kings, he suggested that the [pitch] had been prepared like it was done by the opposing team's curator. The above observation shows just how crucial [pitch conditions] are for a game and why teams always keep very close eyes on them. If any of the sides feel that the [pitch] is not being prepared equally, it can develop a sense of [disadvantage] within them and produce issues of [fair play].

The [BCCI] need to ensure the quality and parity of the IPL. The very moment one side begins dominating their home [pitch], the competition of the tournament gets lost. Fans love those matches which are unpredictable and tough to beat. When all teams have to play on an even footing, then it retains suspense. While various stadia inherently have different varieties of pitches according to their soil and climate, some compromise must be achieved somewhere. If [BCCI] imposes some rule, then the game will prove to be even to both the teams.

Concurrently, there should be some arrangement for teams to get their home grounds as per their style of play. That is what usually happens in cricket. But this should be limited so that no team gets an undeserved advantage. A completely [one-sided ground] is a death blow to the excitement of the game. If a team only wins due to the [pitch], then it would ruin the tournament for viewers. Cricket is a game where ability and planning should be the deciding elements, not how the pitch is being made.

And finally, all this right-balancing counts. The [BCCI] must set guidelines in such a way so that there are no gargantuan [home advantages], but not prevent teams from having any input in preparing the pitches. This would assist in making the thrill of the IPL not lose its sheen. Sanjay Bangar's statement reflects a considered approach which would make the tournament competitive and equitable. The case for [pitch conditions] will continue to exist as officials and teams attempt to devise ways of making the IPL thrilling and fair to all.