March 23, 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted that the Eden Gardens pitch behaved unusually in their IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), leading to their seven-wicket defeat. Known for traditionally favoring spinners, the surface on this occasion offered little assistance to KKR’s spin-heavy attack, much to Rahane’s disappointment.
Rahane explained that the pitch had been covered for the past one and a half days due to persistent rain, which resulted in early moisture. The dampness helped fast bowlers, particularly RCB’s Josh Hazlewood, who made excellent use of the conditions, bowling a crucial spell in the match.
“We would love to see a pitch that helps spin bowlers, but this wicket was under covers for the last one and a half days,” Rahane said in the post-match press conference. “There was some moisture when we started our batting, and Hazlewood used the conditions really well.”
KKR’s spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine were unable to extract the usual turn and grip they rely on. Chakravarthy, coming off an impressive Champions Trophy campaign, was hammered for 43 runs in his four overs, while Narine finished with 1 for 27. The lack of assistance for the spinners reflected in their minimal impact, with the pair managing only two wickets between them.
Despite the challenges posed by the pitch, Rahane remained confident in his spinners’ abilities, emphasizing that they are capable of bowling on any surface. “No complaints. Both our spinners are of great quality; they can bowl on any kind of wicket,” he said. “I’m sure they are confident as well, but yes, the pitch played differently because it was under cover and there was rain throughout yesterday.”
While KKR faced difficulty with the surface, Rahane’s assurance in the team’s strength suggests that the spinners will bounce back in future games as conditions change throughout the season.