'Inappropriate conclusions were drawn' - Harsha Bhogle on his absence from commentary panel for KKR vs GT match
"I was rostered for two games in Kolkata. I was there for the first and an illness in the family prevented me from being at the 2nd," said Bhogle.
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Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle has dismissed recent rumours suggesting he is not part of the IPL 2025 commentary panel for Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) home matches at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He addressed the speculation following his absence from the commentary box during the match between KKR and Gujarat Titans (GT), stating that inappropriate conclusions were being drawn.
According to reports on Monday, Harsha Bhogle and former New Zealand cricketer-turned-commentator Simon Doull have been red-flagged by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The CAB allegedly requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to assign the duo to KKR’s home fixtures, reportedly in response to their criticism of the Eden Gardens pitches curated by Sujan Mukherjee.
The commentator, however, clarified that he had only been scheduled to commentate on two matches in Kolkata this season and has missed the second one due to personal reasons.
"There are some inappropriate conclusions being drawn about why I wasn't at yesterday's game in Kolkata. Quite simply, it wasn't on the list of matches I was down to do! Asking me would have resolved the issue. Rosters are done before the tournament starts. I was rostered for two games in Kolkata. I was there for the first and an illness in the family prevented me from being at the 2nd," Bhogle wrote on X on Tuesday.
Also read: 'He comes with a plan' - Rashid Khan hails Shubman Gill’s captaincy after GT's victory over KKR
Earlier on Cricbuzz, both commentators criticised the ground curator for preparing surfaces that did not complement KKR’s strengths, particularly their spin attack. The former Kiwi cricketer went as far as to suggest that KKR consider relocating their home matches if the pitch conditions fail to provide a competitive advantage.
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Chadrakant Pandit have also voiced concerns over the lack of spin-friendly pitches in the first half of the IPL 2025 season.
KKR’s struggle at home continued as they lost to GT by 39 runs, placing them seventh on the points table with just three wins so far. The defending champions will aim to bounce back when they face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday, April 26 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
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