IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane Hits Out at Eden Curator After LSG Loss, Avoids 'Bawal' Regarding Home Advantage

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Ajinkya Rahane has expressed his frustration over the nature of the Eden Gardens pitch following KKR's narrow four-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - their second defeat at home in IPL 2025.

Speaking after the high-scoring contest, Rahane made a pointed remark about pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee, suggesting he was relishing the media attention around the "home advantage" controversy.

"There was no help for the spinners, let me make that clear," Rahane stated, highlighting KKR's struggle on what was one of the flattest Eden tracks in recent memory. LSG posted a mammoth 238/3, with KKR nearly matching the target before finishing at 234/7.

Rahane chose not to delve deeper into the pitch debate but hinted at his discontent with the way things are being handled. "There's been enough talk about the wicket. Aap logon ne bahut usko hype kar diya hai. Agar main ab kuch bolunga, toh bawal ho jayega (You've already hyped it up. If I say more, it'll cause a controversy)," he told reporters.

Taking a subtle swipe at Mukherjee, Rahane added, "Our curator has got a lot of publicity. I think he's happy with that. You can write whatever you want about the home advantage."

While Rahane stopped short of escalating the matter publicly, he made it clear that any formal concerns would be directed to the IPL authorities. His remarks echo a wider sentiment among several IPL captains this season, who believe home pitches should align with a team's strengths. For KKR, spin is a key weapon - but Eden Gardens, traditionally known for aiding turn, has offered little assistance so far.

In response to the criticism, Mukherjee has been defiant, insisting that the pitch won't change under his supervision. He has also repeatedly criticized KKR's spinners for failing to deliver, emphasizing that the pitch falls under the jurisdiction of the state association and not the franchise.

The growing tension highlights a larger debate in the IPL - the balance between neutral playing conditions and genuine home advantage. For now, though, the pitch at Eden Gardens remains a hot topic - both on and off the field.