The curator of the Eden Gardens has come under fire for the pitch that was prepared for the Kolkata KnightRiders vs the Deccan Chargers game yesterday. Apparently, he’s being called up and asked why the pitch was so dry and how come the batsman couldn’t score any runs off it!

This is very disappointing indeed. For once, yesterday I was pleased with the pitch. Sure, it was probably too dry, with puffs of dust going up after every bounce on the pitch, but it was not the disaster it is being painted out to be. VVS Laxman has an opinion column in today’s Times Of India where he’s blaming the pitch for the bad performance of the Deccan Chargers.

Did he forget that both teams played on the same pitch? Not only that, but the game was a close one, and it really generated some excitement. Why has everyone come to expect the pitch to be batsman friendly all the time? If there are not more than 10 sixes in a game, is it a failure? Why can’t the bowlers be given assistance from the pitch in a cricket match these days? After all, don’t both teams get a chance to bowl?

I’m a little worried with the way things are progressing. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Twenty20 format is great and allows for lots and lots of entertainment and action, but the attitudes of certain people are worrying me. In all the matches so far, the batsman have tended to favor the huge swings of the bat with hefty swings. Dravid’s straight drive that went for a four yesterday was the ONLY classy shot I’ve seen so far. I can’t remember an elegant cover drive being played at all! Only massive heaves of the bat.

Anyway, I think it is still early days and I’m certain that we are getting a little worried for no reason. I’m sure cricket will benifit immensely as a result of the IPL tournament, but equating Twenty20 with sixes is not right. Give the bowlers a chance too!