Eden curator Mukherjee miffed with Indian team

Eden curator Prabir Mukherjee sarcastically expresses disappointment after receiving no acknowledgement for a sporting track

Ever since the Indian team had their first look at the 22-yard strip at Eden Gardens after their Nagpur mauling, Prabir Mukherjee has been the most sought-after man.

After witnessing the tinge of green on the wicket, some members of the Indian contingent personally requested the veteran curator to shave off the grass ahead of the Test.

However, after gaining an upper hand on an ideal Test match track, MSD & Co seemed to have turned their backs on the man who, in a way, proved to be their messiah.

Despite reducing South Africa to 266 for nine at stumps on the opening day of the second Test, no one from the Indian camp walked up to Mukherjee to thank him.

"They didn't bother (to thank me). Why should they come to me and say 'shukriya'? They are multi-millionaires while I am a poor person. But I love to prepare wickets passionately. And I have done just that," Mukherjee told MiD DAY, his sarcastic tone unable to hide his disappointment.

"Had they been rattled by the South African bowlers on the opening day, I would have surely got some nasty comments. But that's how Indian cricket is."

It was widely reported that the grass was shaved off after the Indian team management requested Cricket Association of Bengal president Jagmohan Dalmiya to intervene. However, Mukherjee denied the former ICC president's involvement.

"Dalmiya never asked me to shave off the grass. The team management passed on their request through a senior cricketer, so I shaved it off a bit. The need of the hour is to produce a sporting wicket for a Test match, so I have prepared one," Mukherjee signed off.