📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / DncnH from Melton Mowbray, UK
Sports
Leicestershire blames Sourav Ganguly biopic shoot for 27‑point loss on poor pitch
✍️ Yahoo Sports
🗓 18 Sep 2026, 04:47 AM
👁 9
Leicestershire County Cricket Club said the filming of the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic damaged the pitch, contributing to a 27‑point deficit in their recent match.
Leicestershire County Cricket Club has lodged a formal complaint linking the recent 27‑point shortfall in their County Championship tally to the filming of a biographical movie on former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. The club’s officials said the crew’s equipment and set‑up on the historic Grace Road ground left the playing surface uneven and unsafe for professional cricket.
In a statement released after the match, Leicestershire highlighted that the pitch’s deterioration was evident from the first innings, with uneven bounce and excessive wear affecting both batting and bowling. The club argued that these conditions directly influenced the result, costing them a substantial points swing in the league.
The biopic, scheduled for release later this year, chose Grace Road as a key location to recreate iconic moments from Ganguly’s career. While the production team secured the necessary permits, Leicestershire officials contend that the duration and scale of the shoot exceeded what the venue could accommodate without compromising the ground’s integrity.
County officials have called for clearer guidelines on film crews using sports venues, emphasizing the need to protect playing surfaces that host competitive fixtures. The dispute underscores the growing tension between entertainment projects and traditional sporting venues in the UK.
In a statement released after the match, Leicestershire highlighted that the pitch’s deterioration was evident from the first innings, with uneven bounce and excessive wear affecting both batting and bowling. The club argued that these conditions directly influenced the result, costing them a substantial points swing in the league.
The biopic, scheduled for release later this year, chose Grace Road as a key location to recreate iconic moments from Ganguly’s career. While the production team secured the necessary permits, Leicestershire officials contend that the duration and scale of the shoot exceeded what the venue could accommodate without compromising the ground’s integrity.
County officials have called for clearer guidelines on film crews using sports venues, emphasizing the need to protect playing surfaces that host competitive fixtures. The dispute underscores the growing tension between entertainment projects and traditional sporting venues in the UK.