'Do they understand cricket?' - Eden Gardens' pitch curator lashes out at critics for '250' remarks about pitch

The pitches across the different venues in the ongoing IPL 2024 have been under scanner due to the ‘more than expected’ high-scoring matches in the tournament. In the same line of events, some of the cricket experts and former cricketers are criticizing the pitch of the Eden Gardens Stadium, where the hosts KKR posted a total of 261 runs and later was chased by Punjab Kings easily in the 18.4 overs.

However, it seems like this criticism hasn’t gone down well with the pitch curator of the Eden Gardens, Sujan Mukherjee; he came up with a ‘clear-cut’ statement about the nature of the Eden Gardens pitch. Mukherjee also lashed out at the critics and questioned their cricketing sense as he referenced KKR’s star bowler Sunil Narine who was quite economical at the same wicket.

Here's what other curators and Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee said

“The present year’s heat is very high, and because of this, the moisture retention of all pitched across the country has been lower. The moisture balance is not sustaining as needed for a T20 game. This overhead condition is affecting the nature of the pitch. This aspect is different from what it was in previous years,” said another curator involved in the ‘pitch-making’ process in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024.

Apart from that, Sujan Mukherjee said that he took a clear stand for the Eden Gardens pitch being a sport and competitive wicket.

“I don't know why people are criticising the pitch. Do they understand cricket? Sunil Narine bowled on this same wicket and only conceded 24 in 4 overs. It's not like Narine bowled on a different wicket,” said Sujan Mukherjee while hitting back at the critics about the ‘250 remarks’.

Speaking of the game between KKR and PBKS played here, it recorded the highest-ever successful run-chase in the entire history of the Indian Premier League and the T20 Cricket as well.