KKR Coach Demands Home Teams to Be Provided with Suited Conditions

KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit opines that home teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) should be provided with conditions favorable to them. He explicitly stated that KKR does not have control over the preparation of pitches at Eden Gardens. This follows after KKR lost their first home game to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) but their away game against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Home teams have not had much of an advantage so far in IPL 2025. In ten games played, just five home teams have emerged victorious. This has resulted in numerous debates between captains and team management regarding whether franchises should receive pitches that favor their strengths. In response to this question, Pandit explained that it would be reasonable for teams to have input in the conditions for their seven home matches.

KKR will next play Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium. Then they have two home games against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants. Pandit clarified that KKR plays on whatever surface is provided to them. He added the pitch is made available by the curator, and not the team management. Currently, everyone is focused on winning the next game.

When journalists quizzed if KKR exercised any influence on the pitch in Eden Gardens, Pandit asserted that franchises never determine how the surface is laid. He admitted that he is not aware how things are run at other stadiums but averred that teams always pray for conditions favoring them.

This was a bigger subject after KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane declared that the pitch should benefit their spin bowlers. KKR is dependent on Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, but the pair did not perform well in their game against RCB. In reply to Rahane's statement, Eden Gardens chief curator Sujan Mukherjee reminded everyone that according to BCCI guidelines, franchises have no role in pitch preparation. The venue curator appointed by the BCCI is responsible for the pitch, just as in first-class games.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming too expressed his frustration following CSK's defeat at home to RCB by 50 runs. He stated that CSK no longer enjoys a home advantage at Chepauk. CSK has constructed their side based on spin-friendly conditions, but their second home game of IPL 2025 was favorable for fast bowlers. This was confirmed by the performance of RCB pacers Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Fleming observed that CSK has found it difficult to anticipate what their home pitches would do over the past few years. He said the team was making efforts to make the change but are still finding it challenging to comprehend the altering conditions.

Alternatively, Gujarat Titans (GT) were able to leverage home conditions to their favor during their game against Mumbai Indians. GT assistant coach Parthiv Patel candidly revealed that they requested a particular kind of pitch in order to make it difficult for MI. Mumbai had been playing on red soil, so GT opted for black soil, making the pitch slow and sticky. The plan came off well as GT's pace bowlers exploited the conditions to perfection to defend a score of 197 and emerged victorious by 36 runs.

This season, it is evident that certain teams are grappling with inconsistent home conditions, whereas others are taking it on themselves to make the best out of them. Chandrakant Pandit and Stephen Fleming are coaches who feel home sides deserve conditions of their choice. BCCI regulations do not permit franchises to encroach on pitch preparation, however. As the tournament goes on, it will be interesting to see if more teams manage to get an advantage at home or if they continue to adjust to unpredictable conditions.