Table of Contents
The issue of home advantage has resurfaced as a major talking point in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane found himself at the center of the discussion following his side’s narrow four-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Eden Gardens.
With KKR suffering their second defeat at home this season, attention quickly turned to the conditions at their iconic home ground and the role of the local pitch curator, Sujan Mukherjee. Known for his straight-talking nature, Sujan had previously made headlines by stating that no IPL franchise would dictate the nature of the surface he prepares at Eden Gardens. This comment sparked controversy and fueled suggestions that the traditional notion of home advantage may not exist for some teams in the tournament.
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s tactful and measured response
Following the defeat to LSG, Rahane, in the post match press conference, was directly asked whether the idea of ‘home advantage’ truly holds any meaning in a league where even the hosts appear to be struggling on their own turf. Rather than giving a definitive answer that might stir controversy, Rahane took a diplomatic approach and chose to deflect the question with subtle sarcasm and a composed demeanor. He stated, “There is enough talk about the wicket. You guys have already given enough publicity to it. If I say something more, it will end up being controversial,” Rahane appeared to acknowledge the swirling opinions but made it clear that he would not add fuel to the fire by making any public statements that could be misconstrued.
Also READ: Kedar Jadhav takes political route by joining BJP; fans react
A subtle jab at the Eden Gardens curator
He further commented, “Our curator has got a lot of publicity. I think he is happy with that publicity. You can write anything about home advantage. If I feel something, I will tell IPL rather than talking here,” This was a direct yet tactful dig at Mukherjee, who had earlier insisted that pitch preparations at Eden Gardens would remain his sole domain, regardless of any requests or pressures from the home team. By saying that the curator seems “happy with the publicity,” Rahane subtly implied that Mukherjee’s words had drawn unnecessary attention to the matter, which in turn has affected the narrative surrounding KKR’s home games.
