IPL 2025: Should teams have ‘home advantage’? KKR controversy sparks debate

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long thrived on the electric atmosphere of home grounds, where passionate local fans, familiar pitch conditions, and territorial familiarity offer teams a perceived edge.

However, the recent pitch controversy surrounding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following their loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens has reignited the debate over how much control franchises should have over their home conditions and whether the IPL should even allow a home advantage at all.

KKR’s Pitch Dispute at Eden Gardens

KKR’s dissatisfaction with the pitches at Eden Gardens became public after the team expressed frustration over surfaces that didn’t favor their strengths. Moreover, in 2023, then-KKR Captain Nitish Rana lamented that “every IPL team enjoys home advantage except KKR,” citing the uncooperative nature of the stadium’s pitch curation. 

However, Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee stood firm, even in 2025, stating that IPL regulations do not permit franchises to dictate pitch conditions.

Mukherjee dismissed KKR’s complaints outright, stating, “IPL is not played on home advantage, and the captain may say anything he wants.”

His remarks, along with KKR’s concerns, have reignited the discussion on social media on whether teams should have more say over pitch preparation, as they do in international cricket, where home teams often tailor conditions to their strengths.

The Role of Home Advantage in the IPL

Historically, home advantage has played a crucial role in the IPL, with teams performing significantly better at their home grounds. Factors such as pitch familiarity, shorter boundaries, and even climatic conditions give franchises a strategic edge.

For instance, in the 2013 IPL season, teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) remained unbeaten at home for extended periods.

Comparative Analysis: CSK, RCB, and Their Home Grounds

A closer look at other IPL franchises highlights how some teams benefit significantly from home advantage.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have historically thrived at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where the slow-turning pitches perfectly suit their spin-heavy bowling attacks. Further, their formidable home win percentage of 70.96% reflects this advantage.

On the other hand, RCB, playing at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, deal with flat, batting-friendly tracks and shorter boundaries, often leading to high-scoring encounters.

While this makes for entertaining cricket, it also neutralizes home advantage, resulting in RCB’s lower home win percentage of 46.51%. The stark contrast between these two teams underscores the impact that pitch conditions have on a franchise’s success rate.

Debate: Standardization vs. Customization

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL governing bodies have implemented measures to standardize pitch conditions across venues, ensuring a level playing field.

While this approach seeks to prevent extreme disparities in playing conditions, it sometimes conflicts with franchises’ desires to tailor pitches to their team compositions.

Mukherjee’s stance at Eden Gardens highlights this ongoing battle. His assertion that franchises should not have a say in pitch preparation aligns with the league’s official stance on neutrality, but it has left KKR questioning whether they are at a disadvantage compared to teams that enjoy favorable home conditions.