KKN Gurugram Desk | In the opening match of IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were handed a humiliating defeat by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Despite a promising start, KKR could not capitalize on their strong position and lost the match. KKR’s captain, Ajinkya Rahane, explained the reasons behind the team’s disappointing performance and shared insights on what went wrong.

KKR’s Promising Start Turned Sour

KKR’s performance in the first half of their innings was commendable. The team looked set to post a total of over 200 runs, with the scoreboard ticking smoothly until the 13th over. However, a sudden collapse saw KKR’s hopes of a high total dashed as key wickets fell at crucial moments. Ajinkya Rahane, in the post-match presentation, highlighted that the team was in a strong position but the loss of key wickets turned the game around.

Rahane explained, “I think we were in a good position till the 13th over, but once Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell got out, the pressure began to mount. We were aiming for a score of 200-210, but losing those wickets broke our momentum.” Rahane also mentioned that he and Venkatesh Iyer were discussing strategies to reach a score above 200 before the collapse, but unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse.

KKR’s top order showed promise, but the middle-order collapse was a major setback. The team, which appeared to be on course for a total over 200, ultimately ended up with a paltry score of just 174 runs. Rahane added, “We were expecting a score over 200, but we couldn’t execute our plans, and the wickets fell at crucial intervals.”

Pressure Mounts as Key Wickets Fall

KKR had managed to reach 125 runs in the first 12 overs, but the final 8 overs saw a mere 49 runs added to the total. The quick dismissals of Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell left KKR’s lower order with little chance to rebuild the innings. To add to the team’s woes, KKR management had chosen not to include an Impact Player for batting, as they focused on strengthening the bowling department.

However, Rahane pointed out that the dew on the field did not benefit the bowlers as expected. Despite the conditions being favorable for bowlers, the lack of substantial impact from the dew meant that the bowlers could not take full advantage of the situation.

RCB’s Strong Reply

RCB, under the leadership of their new captain, responded strongly to KKR’s total. Despite the pressure on the new captain, RCB’s performance was powered by stellar batting and tight bowling. Players like Virat Kohli, and the bowlers, displayed resilience, securing the victory for RCB. In the post-match discussion, Rahane acknowledged that RCB’s opening powerplay and their aggressive approach made it difficult for KKR to recover.

KKR’s Future Plans

Looking ahead, Rahane mentioned that the team would not dwell too much on this loss but would focus on improving their performance in the upcoming matches. He emphasized the need to perform better in certain areas of the game to avoid similar outcomes in the future. KKR will need to regroup, analyze their mistakes, and come back stronger in the following matches to stay competitive in the IPL 2025.

KKR’s Performance Recap:

• KKR’s top order was solid but key wickets fell at critical moments.

• The team fell short of their target of 200+ runs and finished with 174 runs.

• Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Venkatesh Iyer’s wickets were significant turning points in the match.

• Despite good batting intentions, the team’s performance faltered under pressure.

• KKR’s decision to focus on bowling rather than utilizing an Impact Player for batting didn’t pay off.