The BCCI has heard complaints from many IPL teams about pitches. Teams want pitches that help them win at home. But some teams feel they aren’t getting what they need.
LSG mentor Zaheer Khan is upset about the Ekana Stadium pitch. He thinks it doesn’t give his team any home advantage. LSG wants a slow pitch for their spin bowlers.
At Eden Gardens, KKR faced a similar problem. The pitchmaker first said he decided how to make the pitch, but he changed his mind after two cricket experts spoke up.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming is also not happy. He feels his team has no say about the Chennai pitch. CSK likes slow pitches that help spin bowling.
What Teams Really Want From Their Home Pitches
These teams prefer pitches where the ball turns a lot. They pick players who are good on these types of pitches. They don’t want pitches that only help batters hit big shots.
Delhi Capitals also felt sad about their Vizag pitches. They played their first two matches there this season, and the pitch didn’t match what they hoped for.
BCCI Responds to Teams’ Concern
The BCCI says teams should talk about pitches before the season starts. Teams can’t ask for changes when games have already begun. This creates problems for everyone.
A BCCI person said teams and pitchmakers need to talk more. They can’t wait until the IPL has already started. Good planning takes time.
For Lucknow’s pitch, the BCCI said changing it would be very hard. They would need to redo the whole field. All pitches must follow BCCI rules.
Finding Balance
The BCCI says pitchmakers have the final say. No team or player can tell them what to do. Pitches should be fair for both fast and spin bowling.
Teams spend lots of money building their squads. They pick players for certain pitch types. So they hope for pitches that help their players shine.
Pitchmakers might think about what teams need. But they must follow the rules too. Finding the right balance seems hard in IPL 2025.
