New Delhi [India], April 3: Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding pitch preparation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that while franchises should have some influence, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should retain control to maintain fairness and prevent extreme home-ground advantages.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s IPL show, Time Out, Bangar emphasized the importance of uniformity in pitch conditions, while still allowing for natural variations due to regional soil types.
“I think BCCI would still like to have a little bit of control over it and maintain the characteristics of a particular surface. If you totally give it to the hands of the franchise, you do not really want the game to be too lopsided. So, I believe in a balance—some level of uniformity while allowing for variations due to different soil types across India,” Bangar said.
Bangar also pointed out the challenges of pitch development at smaller venues like M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where IPL matches are played only on two center wickets due to ground size limitations.
“In RCB’s home ground, Chinnaswamy, there are only two pitches on which you can play games. Due to the size of the ground, you can’t have a lot of variation between those surfaces. It is practically impossible to do that,” he added.
The discussion on pitch conditions has been a hot topic in the early weeks of IPL 2025. Kolkata Knight Riders’ head coach Chandrakant Pandit recently stated that his team has little control over pitch preparation at Eden Gardens. Similarly, Chennai Super Kings’ head coach Stephen Fleming dismissed claims that his team enjoys a major home advantage at Chepauk, highlighting their struggles with home conditions in recent seasons.
After Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) defeat to Punjab Kings, team mentor Zaheer Khan also raised concerns about pitch preparation at the Ekana Stadium, suggesting that the surface seemed to have been curated to favor the visiting team.
With the debate intensifying, the balance between home advantage and fair competition remains a crucial issue for the IPL governing body to address.