Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are at a critical juncture in IPL 2025, needing a dramatic turnaround to keep their playoff hopes alive. Their next challenge comes against the in-form Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. With just five matches left, KKR must win all of them to stay in contention, while DC, with six wins in nine games, are eyeing a top-two finish.
KKR’s campaign has been marred by inconsistency, particularly in both batting and bowling. Their inability to take early wickets in the powerplay has been a glaring issue, with their spinners failing to make an impact. This has put immense pressure on their batters, who have also struggled to deliver consistently.
Among the batters, Ajinkya Rahane has been a rare bright spot, amassing 271 runs. However, the rest of the lineup has faltered. Quinton de Kock was dropped after a poor run, and his replacement, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, has managed just two runs in two games. Rinku Singh, a top retention for KKR, has scored only 133 runs in nine matches, while Venkatesh Iyer, acquired for a hefty sum, has 135 runs. Andre Russell, a key player, has contributed a mere 55 runs, and last season’s MVP, Sunil Narine, has 151 runs. Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi has shown promise with 197 runs but needs to convert his starts into match-winning performances.
KKR’s bowling woes are equally concerning. In 10 matches, they have taken just seven powerplay wickets. At Eden Gardens, they have managed only three powerplay wickets, all in a single game against SunRisers Hyderabad. In other home games, opponents have posted strong powerplay scores, highlighting KKR’s struggles. Their inability to strike early has often left them chasing the game.
Varun Chakaravarthy has been a rare positive in the bowling department, taking 11 wickets at an economy of 6.85. However, Sunil Narine has struggled, with just seven wickets at 7.75 runs per over, a far cry from his 17 wickets last season. Harshit Rana has also had a disappointing campaign, with only 11 wickets to his name.
“My role has increased, but I’m not happy with my performance so far,” admitted Rana ahead of the DC clash.
For KKR to keep their playoff dreams alive, they need a complete team effort, starting with their bowlers stepping up in the powerplay. The stakes are high, and the pressure is mounting as they face a formidable DC side.
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