Eden diary: Heat on TV pundits Bhogle, Doull after CAB's red flag to BCCI

Indian cricket is no stranger to TV pundits being at the receiving end of cricketers’ ire — be it a Harsha Bhogle, a Sanjay Manjrekar or an Irfan Pathan. Now, in a first of sorts, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has fired off a strongly worded letter to the Indian cricket board on Monday, 21 April, to not allow Harsha Bhogle and/or Simon Doull to pick up commentary duties for any IPL matches at the Eden Gardens.

A report on sports website Revsportz says the CAB, which had taken strong exception to the two TV pundits’ criticism of the wicket at the Eden at a Cricbuzz show last month, had red-flagged them on the grounds that the duo had exceeded their brief.

The iconic venue in Kolkata is still to host five more games (after the KKR vs Gujarat Titans match on Monday) in the ongoing IPL 2025 season, including three home games for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders along with Qualifier 2 and the finale.

The bone of contention — no prizes for guessing — was the nature of the surface provided by Eden curator Sujan Mukherjee when KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane complained about the lack of a ‘home advantage’ after losing the season opener against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He wanted some “more spin” for his matchwinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy — but that his job was to provide a ‘sporting wicket’ and the franchises could not interfere with the preparation of the track.

After the KKR bounced back from the defeat against the RCB to beat the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati in the second game, Bhogle lashed out at the curator for showing no regard for the KKR’s plea for a home advantage.

Doull, who was part of the panel, went a step ahead, saying that if the Eden curator maintains his stance, then KKR should move out of Kolkata and find a new home. ‘’If he’s not taking heed of what the home team wants... I mean they are paying the stadium fees, they are paying for what’s going on in the IPL, but if he’s still not paying heed to what the home team wants, then just move the franchise away to somewhere else. His job is not to pass an opinion on the game. That's not what he’s paid for,’’ the former New Zealand all-rounder said.

The heat is still on the Eden curator, under whom this has been voted the best venue thrice during the course of IPL history.

When contacted, a CAB spokesperson refused to comment on the issue; but it can be no coincidence that neither Bhogle, nor Doull — who are also on the official commentators’ panel for Jio Hotstar — has been put on the roster for Monday’s match.

The last is yet to be heard on the KKR’s home advantage at the Eden, especially if things don’t go in their favour in the remaining matches.