Fans often overreact, and that’s often been the story of fandom. But, to a degree, they are entitled. In my book, the two most important constituents of the IPL are the players and the fans. Unless the fans watch the action, there is no IPL. They help the broadcaster make money, encourage the advertisers to spend and make the tournament what it is. They make heroes of the players and create brands of them. The best example was when the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the tournament for the first time in 2012. Over 80,000 fans made it to the Eden Gardens on a scorching summer day to be a part of the celebrations on the team’s return. If we don’t call that an overreaction and hail the gesture as an act of passion, we should treat their comments after a listless performance in the very same manner.
They will vent, for they are upset. They will speak out, for they are frustrated and disappointed. A committed fan is also a vocal fan, and it can’t be that we will take the good and reject the bad. If we hail his fandom and use his or her praise to highlight the robustness of the brand, we need to take the criticism seriously as well and be accountable to a degree. That’s exactly what KKR needs to do at this point. There is little debate the team was listless in the match against Gujarat Titans (GT).
Some glaring questions stare at us and they need to be asked. Most importantly, the coaching staff is accountable and they need to offer some answers. KKR, the coaches and captain need to realise, is an emotion for many in Bengal. It is a sentiment that can hardly be ignored. If they could once say “Tu fan nahi, toofan hai [You’re not a fan, you’re a typhoon]”, they might as well offer the fans some explanation on some of the decisions taken. In business, the shareholders need to be told why certain decisions were taken. KKR is no different. In a professional franchise, we need transparency and accountability.
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The pitch for the match between KKR and Punjab Kings. pic.twitter.com/pO4YhtI9f7
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Why was Andre Russell, who picked up the first GT wicket in his opening over, not bowled thereafter? Why and how can Rovman Powell be ignored? Why can’t KKR play Luvnith Sisodia in place of Gurbaz, and then accommodate both Powell and Russell? However, KKR, in what was a strange call, opted for Gurbaz as wicketkeeper-batsman. For the record, they have Sisodia who they haven’t tried yet. Sisodia, who looked exciting in the trials, surely deserves a chance.
KKR are still in a position to make the play-offs with a very good sequence of results. Perhaps they will start the process of recovery from tonight. But all the fans expect of the coaches is more transparency, to tell them what they think and why they think so. As part of the extended KKR family, the fans need to know. Fans need to know, for it is their sentiment that has made the brand what it is. If fan passion has helped the brand, it needs to be given its due in troubled times as well.
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🚨 #KKR Updates!#RovmanPowell to be included in the line-up against PBKS?@gargiraut15 and @shamik100 report from Eden Gardens with all updates from the KKR practice session.@ThumsUpOfficial @IPL #KKRvsPBKS #IPL2025 #IPL25 pic.twitter.com/QiNwAqfOXG
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 25, 2025