On Friday, Kolkata Knight Riders had a team dinner. It was a private event, but according to sources, it also doubled up as a team bonding session. The defeat to Punjab Kings, where KKR suffered a spectacular batting collapse – losing five wickets for seven runs during a period of the game – was painful. But negative vibes haven’t crept into the dressing room.
KKR would like to believe that their batting implosion against PBKS was a one-off. But there has to be a bigger concern. During their title-winning campaign last year, the team had lost only three matches in the group phase. This term, they have already lost four of their first seven matches.
A tally of 16 points usually takes a team to the IPL playoffs. If that is the magic number, then KKR need to win at least five of their next seven games. The high-flying Gujarat Titans are their next opponents, at Eden Gardens on Monday. And once again, it is likely to be a high-scoring affair, for the pitch here will not change.
One of the big problems for KKR this season is that their middle-order collectively hasn’t clicked yet. The bottle job at Mullanpur bordered on the extreme, but against Lucknow Super Giants also, on home patch, the defending champions lost five wickets for 23 runs between over number 13 and over number 17. A couple of those wickets were given away to full tosses, taking the pitch out of the equation. At 162/2 after 12.5 overs, chasing 239 for victory, the game sat in KKR’s dug-out. But Ajinkya Rahane & Co lost their way. Before that, against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede, they were bundled out for 116 in 16.2 overs.
Andre Russell’s form is one of the reasons why KKR’s middle-order is looking insipid. At the halfway stage, there’s enough reason to question his place in the playing XI – just 34 runs in seven matches, his fitness (by Yo-Yo tests standards) and his contribution as a bowler (only 6.3 overs in seven games). Stats don’t lie and the suggestion to drop him might not sound preposterous, especially when a player of Rovman Powell’s ability is waiting in the wings. Easier said than done, and there’s also a flip side to it.
Over seven matches, Russell has faced only 31 deliveries. He is batting too low down the order. Against PBKS, he walked in at No. 7 and was the last man standing. He had to resort to a hit-or-bust approach, which didn’t work. Against LSG also, Russell was sent at No. 7. Against MI, he came in at No. 8.
Abhishek Nayar has rejoined Kolkata Knight Riders as one of their support staff for the remainder of #IPL2025. How did the move happen?@debasissen and @shamik100 with more details from Eden Gardens pic.twitter.com/9DwQBw8Kl1
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 19, 2025
The question was asked to Venkatesh Iyer, KKR’s vice-captain, at a press conference a few days ago. “I think from the analytics point of view, the entry point is a huge thing,” Iyer had said. “Once you assess if a certain pitch is going to suit an individual or not, you decide his entry point.”
Russell is a bonafide KKR legend. He has enough credit in the bank. Also, when the franchise retained him for Rs 12 crore ahead of the mega auction, it appeared to be a logical decision.
Yes, the Jamaican is on the wrong side of thirty (36). But only last year he had scored 222 runs from nine innings at a strike rate of 185.00. He also took 19 wickets. Amid the opening blitz of Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, and the “rebirth” of Varun Chakravarthy, Russell was still the team’s X-factor.
This correspondent can attest that the ‘big man’ is striking the ball well at the nets. But batsmen performing well at the nets and struggling in matches is not new in cricket. Pressure is entirely different in a competitive fixture and a few low scores can affect a player’s confidence.
That said, Russell is working his socks off to get back to form. On Saturday, he did an extra throwdown session at the CAB indoors before coming to the ground for bowling and batting at the nets. Abhishek Nayar’s return to the coaching set-up might help as well. Over the years, the two have formed a close association, at KKR and Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.
All said and done, it’s decision time for the KKR management. Promoting Russell up the order can give him the required room to get into the groove before unleashing his heavy blows. A mini break, for a game or two, might help him recharge his batteries and get into the right headspace. A batting-order rejig is probably the better option.
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Only a few days ago, it came to light that Abhishek Nayar has been relieved from his position of the Indian team’s assistant coach. From that point of view, things happened quickly, with the 41-year-old joining the KKR set-up.
✍️@shamik100 #KKR #IPL2025 https://t.co/LtSzvZmea6
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 19, 2025