The match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is still set to take place in Kolkata, but the date has changed. Originally planned for April 6, it will now occur on April 8. This new schedule turns April 8 into an exciting day for cricket fans, featuring two matches: KKR vs LSG at 3:30 PM IST, followed by Punjab Kings (PBKS) facing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at 7:30 PM.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the rescheduling on March 28. The change was made due to a request from Kolkata Police to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) about needing extra personnel on-site for local celebrations.
According to the BCCI, “the authorities have suggested that the game be moved to Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 3:30 PM, and we have agreed. The rest of the schedule remains unchanged. April 6 will now feature just one match, with Sunrisers Hyderabad hosting Gujarat Titans at 7:30 PM as planned.”
In other news, the decision to move the KKR match was influenced by the Ram Navami celebrations in Kolkata. While there were earlier talks about the match possibly being moved to Guwahati, a source close to the CAB confirmed they worked hard to keep the game in Kolkata.
However, not everything is smooth for KKR right now. There’s a bit of conflict regarding the pitch used in their games. After a recent match, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed his concern that the pitch wasn’t suited to their playing style, particularly for their spin bowlers. He noted, “We love to see the pitch helping the spin bowlers, but this wicket had been covered for the last one and a half days.”
These comments led to a heated exchange with the Eden Gardens pitch curator, Sujan Mukherjee. He defended his work and stated that no one has the right to question how he prepares the pitch.
This exchange caught the attention of former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull, who was providing analysis on Cricbuzz. Doull criticized the curator, saying he shouldn’t give opinions on the game if he doesn’t align the pitch conditions with the team’s needs. He suggested that if the pitch conditions can’t be improved for KKR, they might as well consider changing venues.
“It’s not his job to voice opinions on the game. If he isn’t considering what the home team wants, KKR might have to think about moving to a different location,” Doull said while discussing the team’s situation.
Stay tuned for more updates on the IPL and the teams involved as the season progresses!
