The debate over pitches providing home advantage has been robust this season.
Overview
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Dwayne Bravo has shared his thoughts on the home advantage debate ahead of his team’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 3 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The former all-rounder believes that a team’s real advantage at home is not the playing surface but the support of the fans.
The former West Indies cricketer stated that he does not have extensive knowledge about pitches and believes that the team that performs best on the day emerges victorious. The KKR mentor emphasised that the players should always assess the conditions and adapt their game accordingly.
“What helps with the home advantage is the fans. I think that is more important than how the pitch plays. I can’t really comment much on the pitches but once the fans enter the game, cheer us on, that makes a difference,” Bravo said to The Indian Express.
“I don’t know much about pitches. For me, the team who plays the best on the day will win. So, whether the pitch is slow, whether it’s turning, whether it’s not turning, my advice to the players will always be to make the necessary assessments, and play according to the conditions,” he added.
The defending champions have had a tough start to the season, beginning with a seven-wicket loss at home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Following the defeat, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed his displeasure with the pitch conditions at Kolkata.
However, they bounced back in their second game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati, securing an eight-wicket victory, with Quinton de Kock’s stellar batting and an impressive bowling display from the team. Their momentum was short-lived, as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians (MI) in their third match, struggling against Mumbai’s bowling attack and slipping to the bottom of the table.
As they prepare to face SRH at home, KKR will be determined to turn things around and get their campaign back on track with a positive performance.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Match 16, LSG vs MI Match Prediction
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