NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals Wednesday distanced themselves from their captain Shane Warne's outburst and the tweet of suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi over the last-minute switch of the pitch for their Jaipur game against Chennai Super Kings.
Royals, in a statement, expressed confidence in the curator of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium and the Indian cricket board's Ground and Pitches Committee, insisting that neither Warne nor any of their players has held the pitch responsible for their defeat.
The Royals' clarification comes a day after the Indian cricket board said that the Jaipur pitch for Monday's game was not changed to suit defending champions Chennai Super Kings, who won the match by 63 runs.
Royals also distanced themselves from Modi's tweet as well as other reports in the media, saying that the franchise does not subscribe to these views.
"A little birdie just whispered that the big game in Jaipur has been moved to a side wicket on the Square. Why? ask Rca official and CSK ...this is where board politics come in," tweeted Modi.
Royals, considered close to Modi, said in the statement: "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. We have confidence in the curator of Sawai Mansingh Stadium, and the Grounds Committee to select and prepare quality pitches for Twenty20 matches. Over the last four years we have nothing but praise for the ground staff who work tirelessly to provide the best possible pitches."
Royals said their loss against Super Kings was not due to the pitch.
"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 Super Kings side and credit must go to them for their performance. While all pitches might vary and some suit our style better than others. Rajasthan Royals are happy with the quality of the conditions we play under in Jaipur and at all other grounds we have visited in the IPL," the statement said.
Warne, however, had said in his post-match remarks that he was shocked to be told which pitch to play on and how to prepare for their home game against Chennai Super Kings.
Warne appeared livid that the pitch didn't offer his side the home advantage.
"It is a shame that we are the only home team to not get what we want," Warne said.
Rubbishing Warne's claims, IPL chairman Chirayu Amin, also a board vice president, said the pitch was changed on the recommendation of the Ground and Pitches Committee.