Rajasthan Royals has distanced itself from former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi's comments on the Sawai Man Singh stadium pitch controversy.
The now suspended Modi had taken a swipe at Board of Control for Cricket in India officials for changing the pitch for the match between
Rajasthan Royals and defending champions Chennai Super Kings, suggesting that it was done at the behest of BCCI secretary and president-elect N Srinivasan.
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The franchise issued a statement on Wednesday, saying it was happy with the quality of the new strip on which the home team played Chennai Super Kings.
"Rajasthan Royals wish to clarify position relating to recent comments attributed to Jaipur pitch. The Royals have confidence in the curator of Sawai Mansingh Stadium, and the IPL Grounds Committee to select and prepare high quality cricket pitches for T20 matches," the statement said.
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"We note that other comments have been made by other parties, including Lalit Modi, in the media relating to the pitch. These are their own views and we would like to state that these are not those of Rajasthan Royals.
"Over the last four years we have nothing but praise for the ground staff who work tirelessly to provide the best possible pitches. We have enjoyed considerable success playing on our home ground and have developed a game plan to best suit the prevailing conditions.
"Whilst all pitches might vary and some suit our style better than others, RR are happy with the quality of the conditions we play under in Jaipur and at all other grounds we have visited in the IPL.
"At no time have we attributed our results to the conditions of the pitch at any ground. On Monday, our captain and players have consistently stated that we were outplayed by a very strong CSK side and credit must go to them for their performance," the statement added.
Controversy erupted following an unofficial complaint lodged by Mumbai Indians after they were restricted to 94 for eight by Rajasthan Royals on a sloe track in their IPL match in Jaipur on April 29.
The matter prompted the chairman of BCCI's Pitches and Grounds committee, Venkat Sundaram, to rush to Jaipur and allegedly order new strips for the remaining two matches on May 9 and May 11.
A livid Royals' captain Shane Warne slammed the decision as "ridiculous" but also admitted that pitch couldn't have been an excuse for defeat.
The BCCI then tried to douse the fire, with chairman Chirayu Amin issuing a statement on Tuesday that it was the curator, in consultation with the BCCI's Ground and Pitches Committee, who decides the playing surface and there was nothing sinister about the change of pitch.
