RCB vs DC: Dinesh Karthik Slams Chinnaswamy Pitch, Curator Under Scanner After Back-to-Back Losses

The ongoing tension between IPL teams and pitch curators in the 2025 season shows no signs of easing. Following complaints from KKR, LSG and RCB has now added its voice to the chorus. Team mentor Dinesh Karthik has voiced dissatisfaction with the pitch conditions provided for RCB’s home fixtures. Notably, RCB has suffered defeats in both of their matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium this season.

Karthik’s remarks came in the wake of RCB’s second consecutive home loss on Thursday (April 10, 2025). Batting first against Delhi Capitals on a sluggish surface, RCB managed a below-par total of 163 for seven. In their earlier game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium against Gujarat Titans, they faced similar challenges posting 169 for eight after being asked to bat. On both occasions, the opposition found the chase relatively comfortable raising concerns over the nature of the pitches.

When asked whether RCB would have preferred the traditionally batting-friendly conditions seen at the venue in previous seasons, Karthik responded, “The way T20 cricket is these days, the more runs scored, the better it is for the broadcaster and the fans. Everyone enjoys watching boundaries.”

“In the first two games, we requested good pitches. But it’s played out in a way where batting has definitely been a challenge. So, we just try to make the most of whatever conditions we’re given,” he added.

“We will obviously have a chat with him, and we trust him to do his job,” Karthik said when asked if the RCB management would follow up with the pitch curator.

“This is not a pitch that’s helping the batters too much. It’s a challenging pitch—that’s been the case in both games we’ve played. In the first game, there was dew, so it got a lot better to bat in the second innings. Today, it was really hard. Then, unluckily for us, a little bit of rain came, and you could see the difference in the pitch. The shots that they (DC) played definitely weren’t possible in the first innings,” he explained.

IPL 2025 Teams Raise Concerns Over Home Pitch Conditions

The controversy over the pitch in IPL 2025 started when KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane made a request for a spin-friendly pitch at Eden Gardens. Following exchanges of words with curator Sujan Mukherjee, Rahane decided not to take the issue further, saying that anything more he said would only generate unnecessary drama. Similarly, LSG mentor Zaheer Khan criticized the pitch prepared for their first home game at the Ekana Stadium remarking that it felt like a Punjab curator had prepared the surface after their defeat to PBKS.

CSK coach Stephen Fleming also joined the "home advantage" debate. After losing to RCB at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, he agreed that the team struggled to judge the surface and asserted that there was no genuine home advantage to them this season.