IPL 2025: Spotlight on Eden track as Knights aim for a spin in the plot

‘Home advantage’ remains a talking point as LSG mentor Zaheer Khan joins the chorus

Killing them softly: Sunil Narine (left) and Varun Chakravarthy
Killing them softly: Sunil Narine (left) and Varun Chakravarthy
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Gautam Bhattacharyya

The wicket has perhaps never been under so much scrutiny in the 17-year history of IPL like this time. As defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders are back home after an embarrassing defeat in their last game against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede, they would like to cash in on their spin treasury to contain the free-stroking Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

 A casual remark by the seasoned KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane, urging for some help to spinners after their loss in the first game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, had sparked off a debate over the ‘home advantage.’ Sujan Mukherjee, the veteran chief curator of Eden, maintained in a chat with National Herald that his team’s priority would be to provide a good wicket – though indications are clear that multiple options are being kept ready.

Two strips are being kept ready at Eden, with one receiving much less water treatment as a dry wicket is more conducive for spinners to derive some grip and turn. Sitting at the bottom of the table with two losses in three matches, the Knights would be desperate to let Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy go full tilt against the likes of Travis Head, Avishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. The Knights have two games during this phase at home – the second one being against Lucknow Super Giants in a day game on 8 April.

Interestingly enough, KKR have been much milder in their request for some assistance from the wicket compared to the likes of Chennai Super Kings and LSG. Stephen Fleming, the long serving CSK coach, said the Chepauk wicket is no longer the same (read: slow and low) and they were still trying to come to terms with it.

 Zaheer Khan, the LSG mentor, went a step ahead by saying it seemed that the rival team’s curator (Punjab Kings) had prepared the Lucknow wicket after they were walloped by eight wickets on Tuesday. The likes of Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson and Marco Jansen had done most of the damage on the Ekana strip which was more lively than usual.

 Meanwhile, KKR will still be hurting after their batting collapse against MI on Sunday where they were undone mainly by the left-arm pace of newcomer Ashwani Kumar who claimed four wickets. The shot selection of most of their top batters, including Rahane, came in for severe criticism while Venkatesh Iyer – the vice-captain with a price tag of Rs 23.75 crores - is struggling to get into the groove.

   “Any team can collapse, regardless of the situation. Obviously, that gives the lower order an opportunity but we were unlucky tonight. We’ll do our best to make sure we don’t find ourselves in a similar situation going ahead in the tournament,” said KKR allrounder Ramandeep Singh after the loss.  


Asked about the somewhat cavalier approach of some of their batters like Rinku Singh or Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep tried to justify: “We understand that partnerships are very important but had the attacking approach paid off for Angkrish and Rinku, we would be crediting them for their performance. Sometimes it’s not your day. There are always learnings from every game”,

 The Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers, incidentally, have faltered after a breezy start with back-to-back losses. They had, in fact, lost on three occasions to the Knights last year in a league game, qualifier and the final but then – this is a new year and a new tournament!

Catch the match

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Start: 7.30 pm.

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