'Don't want matches to be too lopsided' - Sanjay Bangar backs BCCI's role in IPL pitch preparation

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Sanjay Bangar has backed the BCCI’s involvement in pitch preparation for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have expressed disappointment over the lack of home advantage, as they did not get the pitches to their preference in recent home games.

Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee admitted that pitch preparation directives come from the BCCI, and franchises using the venue have no say in the matter. KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane also pointed out the lack of assistance for spinners on the surface, calling for surfaces with assistance for the slower bowlers. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan also voiced concerns about the pitch after their loss in their first home match against Punjab Kings at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. 

However, Bangar believes that if curators follow the preferences of franchises, the pitch would heavily favor the home side. He emphasised that the BCCI’s involvement is necessary to maintain objectivity in pitch preparation.

“I think the BCCI would still like to have a little bit of control over it and maintain the characteristics of a particular surface," Bangar said in ESPNcricinfo.

"If you totally give it to the hands of the franchise, you do not really want the game to be too lopsided as well, so I'm of the opinion [of having] a little bit of uniformity wherein not having too much of a say for the home side, still there is enough variety in terms of the vast nature of our country wherein cricket is played all across the nation, in itself has variations in terms of red soil, black soil and all of that. I'm of the opinion that a little bit of direction or guideline is always better,” he added.

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Bangar highlights lack of pitch variety in Chinnaswamy Stadium

Meanwhile, RCB suffered an eight-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans (GT) at their home ground after starting the season with two consecutive away wins. Batting first, Royal Challengers posted 169 for 8 after a shaky start, finding themselves at 42 for 4 in the early stages.

Bangar, who was part of RCB’s coaching staff for three seasons, explained that the limited dimensions of the Chinnaswamy Stadium restrict pitch variety, allowing only a couple of surfaces to be used.

“In RCB, Chinnaswamy, there are only two pitches on which you can play games because of the size of the ground, and generally, you can't have a lot of variation [between] those two surfaces because it is practically impossible to do that,” Bangar added on about the Bengaluru ground.

RCB have lost four out of their last eight matches at the venue, including three consecutive defeats in the previous IPL season.