The pitch at Eden Gardens came under scrutiny last year, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) expressing its disappointment over the nature of the surface during the latter half of the campaign.<\/p>\n
However, as the Knights begin their home run in this season\u2019s Indian Premier League against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team management is in no mood to dwell on the pitch debate.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving coached a bit at every level and being part of certain places where we\u2019ve developed pitches, I know it\u2019s not always the easiest,\u201d KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar said on Wednesday, reiterating that teams ultimately have to adapt to the conditions presented to them.<\/p>\n
Last season, there was visible frustration within the KKR camp about the surfaces at home not entirely aligning with the team\u2019s perceived strengths. The franchise had built its squad with a strong spin component, but the nature of some of the pitches did not always offer the expected assistance. However, Nayar indicated that dwelling too much on such factors could prove counterproductive in a format as unpredictable as T20 cricket.<\/p>\n
While his Sunrisers counterpart Daniel Vettori admitted he was a bit surprised to see \u201ca lot of grass\u201d on the surface, something he had not anticipated, Nayar made it clear that there was little point in overthinking the pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, the narrative in my mind is that when you enter the ground, you try to assess what is in front of you. I don\u2019t like to over-complicate things because our boys play a lot of red-ball cricket and are used to competing in different conditions. As a team, you don\u2019t really know what your advantage is,\u201d Nayar said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can prepare a turning pitch and it can still work against you. Yes, you have preferences, but in T20 cricket, one player can change the game. So, as long as it\u2019s neutral and not heavily one-sided, I\u2019m happy with the pitch,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
KKR will be keen to make the most of familiar conditions as it looks to build momentum at home, especially given how crucial the middle phase of the tournament often proves in shaping the points table. Historically, Eden Gardens has offered a variety of surfaces, from high-scoring belters to tracks that assist spinners, making adaptability a key factor for success.<\/p>\n
As the IPL caravan returns to one of its most iconic venues, the focus, at least from the KKR camp, appears firmly on execution rather than expectation.<\/p>\n
Published on Apr 01, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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