Harsha Bhogle explains its absence from KKR VS GT

A day after reports claimed that Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) had penned a letter against Harsha Bhogle from visiting Kolkata, the latter has responded. The expert, along with Simon Doull, was critical about Kolkata curator Sujan Mukherjee in the “home advantage row”. That did not sit well with the CAB, who in turn wrote to the BCCI seeking a directive to not allow the duo to pursue broadcasting duties for matches in Kolkata.

Bhogle responds amid “home advantage” row

Taking to social media platform X, Bhogle claimed that he was unable to attend the KKR vs GT tie in Kolkata because of personal reasons. He called out reports over his absence and revealed that he was only scheduled to visit the city twice throughout IPL 2025.

“There are some inappropriate conclusions being drawn about why I wasn’t at yesterday’s game in Kolkata. Quite simply, it wasn’t on the list of matches I was down to do! Asking me would have resolved the issue. Rosters are done before the tournament starts. I was rostered for two games in Kolkata. I was there for the first and an illness in the family prevented me from being at the 2nd,” Bhogle wrote on X.

What Bhogle had said

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull were critical of the Kolkata curator’s adamant remarks. Noting that he was extremely unhappy with his statement, Bhogle said that the team was just asking for a surface which their bowlers could win games for the team on. He stressed that home advantage was extremely crucial for a team in the IPL so that they won’t have the pressure of winning the away games.

“I saw something that the KKR curator said. If I am in the KKR team, then I’m extremely unhappy with what he has said. Because I’m not asking for a 120 surface, I’m just saying give me a surface that my bowlers will be able to win me teams on. And to say ‘sorry, I’ll prepare the pitches, you don’t’, no!,” Bhogle said.