The voices of Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull have been conspicuously absent from the commentary box during Kolkata Knight Riders’ recent IPL matches at Eden Gardens—and it appears their criticism of the venue’s pitch has played a significant role in their exclusion.
Both commentators had publicly taken issue with the pitch conditions at Eden Gardens, echoing the sentiments of KKR’s captain and coach, who expressed frustration over the lack of spin-friendly tracks, despite playing at home. Their remarks appear to have sparked a strong reaction from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which reportedly wrote to the BCCI, requesting that Bhogle and Doull not be assigned commentary duties for any of KKR’s home fixtures.
A CAB official, speaking to PTI, confirmed their absence. “Bhogle and Doull are no longer part of the IPL commentary team for KKR’s home matches. However, the situation might change when Eden hosts the Qualifier 2 and the Final on May 23 and 25,” the official stated.
Simon Doull, on a cricket show, didn’t mince words as he criticized the curator’s approach. “If he (the curator) is not taking heed of what the home team wants… they are paying the stadium fees, they are paying for what’s going on in the IPL. If he’s still not listening, then just move the franchise away. His job is not to pass an opinion on the game. That’s not what he’s paid for,” Doull remarked, suggesting KKR should even consider relocating if their needs weren’t being met.
Bhogle, sharing a similar perspective, voiced his support for KKR’s stance. “If they are playing at home, they should get the kind of tracks that suit their bowlers. I saw something about what the KKR curator has said,” he noted.
According to PTI sources close to Bhogle, the veteran broadcaster has not been scheduled for any KKR matches this season, reinforcing speculation that his candid commentary has led to behind-the-scenes consequences. While the exact decisions lie with IPL’s broadcasters and governing bodies, the incident has reignited discussions around freedom of expression in sports coverage and the influence of franchise politics on neutral voices in the game.
