The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has not been without controversies, and one of the most recent involves two of cricket’s greatest voices—Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull. The pair have been axed from the IPL commentary squad for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) home games, reportedly after comments made on a podcast regarding the Eden Gardens pitch scandal.

This sudden turn of events has raised the issue of increasing conflict between franchise demands and conventional cricket administrative procedures, particularly with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) purportedly intervening.

What Triggered the Eden Gardens Pitch Controversy?

The row began when KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane complained about the Eden Gardens surface after their first match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). According to reports, Rahane apparently asked for spin-friendly conditions to favor KKR’s bowling unit, which has Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Moeen Ali.

But the Eden pitch curator, Sujan Mukherjee, reportedly did not oblige this request. The ensuing disagreement has escalated into a public controversy after remarks by Bhogle and Doull further stoked the fire.

What Did Bhogle and Doull Say?

Simon Doull was critical of the situation in a podcast episode:

“If the curator is not listening to what the home team wants… they are paying the stadium rent. If he’s still not listening, then just relocate the franchise.”

Harsha Bhogle, who happened to be in the same debate, concurred:

“If they’re playing at home, they must receive pitches which will favor their bowlers. I read about what the KKR curator had to say.”

These comments did not go down well with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which has historically had strong authority in Eden Gardens and has allegedly made a formal complaint to the BCCI, asking for the two commentators to be dropped from KKR home match assignments.

CAB and BCCI’s Reported Reaction

As per various media reports, Bhogle and Doull have been denied commentary responsibilities for KKR home games in IPL 2025. CAB has rallied behind curator Sujan Mukherjee, reiterating that pitch preparations at Eden Gardens are done strictly in accordance with BCCI guidelines, which do not allow franchises to dictate pitch conditions.

A CAB official told PTI that although the exclusion is currently in place, it could be altered if Eden Gardens hosts Qualifier 2 or the IPL 2025 Final on May 23 and 25.

Were Bhogle and Doull Really Banned?

Although there were reports of them being axed from commentary assignments, Harsha Bhogle went on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to clear the air:

“Some wrongful inferences are being made regarding why I was not present at yesterday’s game in Kolkata. Simply put, it was not on the list of matches I was available to cover.”

Bhogle further said his commentary schedule had been finalized before the tournament started and that he had been rostered to cover only two Eden Gardens games, one of which he had missed when one of his family members fell ill.

Even though the clarification was made, Simon Doull was also absent from the commentary box during KKR vs Gujarat Titans as well, giving rise to speculation of an unofficial ban based on their pitch-related remarks.

What Does the BCCI Pitch Policy Say?

Under BCCI rules, pitch curators must remain neutral, and franchises cannot influence the nature of pitches being prepared for IPL games. The policy ensures uniformity and fairness across all grounds.

Defending himself, curator Sujan Mukherjee claimed:

“No coach or KKR player asked us for any particular type of pitch prior to the first game. We strictly abide by BCCI’s guidelines.”

Franchise Expectations vs Traditional Cricket Administration

This is not the first instance of such a dispute. Something similar happened in Hyderabad at the start of the season, where the Sunrisers Hyderabad administration confronted the local cricket association with a dispute over pitch quality.

Those incidents beg the question: Do IPL franchises, who spend big on player wages, team building, and match-day activities, get any right to be heard about pitch preparation?

Conclusion: A Matter of Interpretation or Intent

Regardless of whether Bhogle and Doull were actually benched or not, this episode highlights the delicate balance among cricket’s stakeholders—broadcasters, franchises, curators, and boards. Although Bhogle has tried to address the issue, the manner and timing of his exclusion have made one think about freedom of speech in sports commentary.

With Eden Gardens still scheduled to host crucial IPL 2025 playoff games, only time will tell if the situation will simmer down—or get even hotter.

Let me know if you’d like meta descriptions, hashtags, or promotional content for this blog as well.