The controversy over the Eden Gardens pitch in IPL 2025 has escalated. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) took action after commentators Harsha Bhogle and Simon Dooley criticized pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee. He complained to the BCCI and asked them not to comment on KKR's home matches. In this episode, both were not present in the English commentary panel during the match between KKR and Gujarat Titans on Monday. Now Harsha Bhogle's statement has come out on this matter. Bhogle dismissed speculations that he was kept away from the KKR-GT match due to a complaint by the CAB. He said that he was included in the panel only for two matches in Kolkata, which are over.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) had strongly objected to the public criticism of the Eden Gardens pitch curator by Dooley and Bhogle. The CAB had also complained to the BCCI about the two cricket experts and requested the board not to assign them commentary duties for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) home matches. Interestingly, neither Bhogle nor Dooley were on commentary duty during the match played between KKR and Gujarat Titans on Monday.

'Unfair conclusions being drawn'
Bhogle's statement came a day after media reports surfaced of a letter sent by CAB secretary Naresh Ojha to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about 10 days ago. In the letter, the CAB had asked to be removed from the commentary panel for matches at Eden Gardens. Bhogle posted on Instagram, "Some unfair conclusions are being drawn as to why I was not in Kolkata for the KKR-GT match. Simply put, it was not in the list of matches I was supposed to commentate on." 'Roster is prepared before IPL starts'

He said, 'The problem would have been solved by asking me. The roster is prepared before the tournament starts. I was selected for two matches in Kolkata. I was there for the first match and could not reach for the second match due to the illness of a family member.' KKR had to face defeat by 39 runs against Gujarat Titans in the match played at Eden Gardens on Monday. Both KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Chandrakant Pandit expressed disappointment over not getting a spinner-friendly pitch at their home ground.

The controversy started from the first match itself.

This controversy started from the first match of this season itself. In the first match, KKR faced RCB at Eden Gardens. KKR's performance was poor in this match and they lost to RCB. After this, the team lost two out of the first three matches at their home ground. Even then Rahane and Chandrakant Pandit had expressed disappointment over the pitch. Media reports had revealed that Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee had rejected this demand and after this, he had to face a lot of criticism. However, later he clarified it and said that he was following the instructions of BCCI.

Dull and Bhogle had lashed out at the pitch curator.

During a panel discussion on a website, Harsha Bhogle and Simon Dooley criticized the pitch curator. Dooley said, 'The job of the pitch curator is not to give an opinion on the game. This is not what he has been paid for. If the pitch curator is not able to understand what the home team needs, then the franchise should make some other city their home ground.' Harsha Bhogle also agreed with this opinion. Bhogle had said that the team should get a home advantage.

No statement from Ganguly and Ojha

A CAB official said on the matter, 'Bhogle and Dooley are no longer part of the IPL commentary team for KKR's home matches. However, the situation may change when Qualifier 2 and the final are held at Eden Gardens on May 23 and 25.' Ojha and CAB president Snehasish Ganguly have not commented on the matter so far.

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