By not playing the IPL final match on Sunday, the Kolkata Knight Riders avoided a big war of words between BCCI and the local authorities (Cricket Association of Bengal).
According to sources, CAB wanted to stage the final encounter on pitch no. 5 or 6, which KKR was using throughout the league stages. Due to the overdose of matches, these two wickets were playing slow and low.
But according to sources, CAB wasn’t bothered and wanted to stage the final tie on one of these two wickets, a choice even KKR would have preferred.
BCCI saw this coming and wrote a letter to CAB days before the play-offs teams were decided, asking the local authorities to host the match of pitch no. 4, which was used only once in the tournament. The pitch was fresh and wasn’t as dry as the other two pitches.
BCCI also asked a key member of the pitches and grounds committee from the eastern zone to rush to the Eden Gardens and work on the proposed wicket before the final.
Finally, the Eden pitch worked out to be a perfect batting paradise. The pitch offered no turn to the spinners, had a very good carry and extremely conducive to conducive stroke-making.
Batting first, the Mumbai Indians made a convincing 202 for five, and, in reply, the Chennai Super Kings were restricted to 161 for eight in the all-important final.
