A fresh controversy has hit the IPL 2025 season as the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has raised objections against two well-known cricket commentators — Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull. The issue is related to their public remarks on the Eden Gardens pitch and Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) home ground situation. CAB has now officially written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requesting that these two commentators be banned from covering matches at Eden Gardens.
This comes after both Bhogle and Doull made strong comments during IPL broadcasts suggesting that KKR should change their home ground if the pitch is not prepared according to the team’s needs.
What Triggered the Commentator Controversy at Eden Gardens?
The matter started right after KKR’s opening match of IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens. Reports came out that the team was unhappy with the pitch, which was not behaving as per their playing strategy. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and KKR’s coaching staff reportedly asked for a spin-friendly pitch, considering their spin attack of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. However, the surface turned out to be more suitable for fast bowlers, leading to high-scoring games and less impact from spinners.
The pitch was prepared by Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee, who stood firm and said that he simply followed BCCI guidelines, which do not allow franchises to demand specific pitch types. Mukherjee claimed he did not do anything wrong and only acted as per the rules.
What Did Simon Doull and Harsha Bhogle Say?
Reacting to the pitch drama, Simon Doull on a show with Cricbuzz said,
“If the home team is paying for everything — ground rent, maintenance, staff — but the curator still doesn’t listen, then KKR should consider shifting base to another city. The curator’s job is not to interfere with cricketing opinions.”
Similarly, Harsha Bhogle commented during a broadcast that:
“If KKR is playing at home, they deserve a pitch that supports their strengths. I’ve heard things about the curator not being flexible.”
These remarks did not go down well with CAB.
CAB’s Strong Response Against the Comments
The Cricket Association of Bengal reacted sharply. In a formal letter to the BCCI, they said that the statements made by Bhogle and Doull were unfair and against the spirit of the game. They requested the board to stop both from doing commentary at Eden Gardens, including in the upcoming KKR vs Gujarat Titans match scheduled for Monday.
CAB strongly backed its curator Sujan Mukherjee, stating that he followed all rules and no team is allowed to demand custom pitches. They pointed out that such public comments can harm the image of Eden Gardens, one of India’s most respected cricket grounds.
Why This Matters for IPL and Eden Gardens
This issue has now grown beyond just a pitch dispute. Eden Gardens is not only KKR’s home ground but also one of the most iconic stadiums in the world. The IPL 2025 final is also scheduled to be played here on 25 May, which makes this controversy even more sensitive.
With no official response from the BCCI yet, it’s unclear if Bhogle and Doull will actually be banned from commentary duties at Eden Gardens. But reports suggest that they may not be assigned commentary roles for the upcoming match between KKR and Gujarat Titans.
This situation shows how pitch conditions, team strategies, and broadcast commentary can come into conflict during high-stakes tournaments like IPL — and how every word said on air is being closely watched.
