'KKR can take the opposition completely apart as ...': Irfan Pathan revives home advantage debate after Kolkata's Great CSK victory | Mint

The IPL debate on the home advantage strengthened after KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane asked a spin-friendly pitch, which was refused. KKR later achieved a significant victory against CSK, which highlights the impact of pitch conditions on their performance, as noted by former cricketer Irfan Pathan. KKR won 8 wickets on Friday (PTI) in this issue of the IPL, there were many debates about the home advantage that the 10 franchises should have. The debate began after KKR’s loss to RCB in the opening match of the season, when captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed his desire to have a spin-friendly track at Eden Gardens (KKR’s home field), but the Pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee denied the request in a interview, in which he said. While KKR has not had the best seasons since and has won a total of 2 of their five games, things took a positive turn on Friday. The Rahane-led franchise applied a huge 8-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, while the hosts struggled to score on a spin-friendly track. CSK was eventually limited to 103 runs in their 20 overs, which the hosts managed to chase in just 10.1 overs. After the match, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan once again picked up the issue of home advantage, adding that KKR could dissolve the opposition when they get a cut that benefits the spinners. Irfan Pathan supports KKR’s home advantage: In a post on Instagram, Pathan said: ‘One thing became clear-if the Kolkata turners get a spin-friendly pitch, a turning area, a slow pitch where there is help, then these guys will take the opposition completely apart, just as they did with CSK. “Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora also bowled well, but the three spinners together took six wickets. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, if they get a pitch like this, there is no one more dangerous than them.” The former cricketer added Ajinkya Rahane about the controversy of the home advantage: Rahane also spoke at a press conference at the issue at a press conference recently and said: ‘There’s enough talk about the wicket. You guys talked a lot about it. If I say something now, the furore will burst. Our trustee has received a lot of publicity. I think he’s happy with the public. ‘ “You can write everything you want about the home advantage. If I have to say something about the home advantage, I will probably talk to the Governing Council or the relevant authorities than to talk here,” KKR skipper added. First published: 12 Apr 2025, 08:29 am Ist