Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, are having a tough time with their batting this IPL season. Former captain Eoin Morgan pointed out that the changes made for their home game against the Gujarat Titans just didn’t work out. KKR lost to the Titans by 39 runs on Monday, marking their second loss in a row, and it’s their third defeat in the last five matches. Overall, they’ve now lost five out of eight games this season. It’s been particularly rough for KKR at their home ground, Eden Gardens, where they’ve only managed to win one out of four matches.
Morgan expressed disappointment that KKR hasn’t bounced back like they need to. He said it should be a good sign for a strong team if they show character in challenging times, but KKR kept facing the same issues that have plagued them all season. “They tried mixing things up with a couple of changes in the lineup against the Titans, mainly to kick-start their batting, but it didn’t pan out as they hoped. Looking back, they might think those changes didn’t really help,” he said.
When chasing a target of 199 runs, KKR struggled to build partnerships and ended up with just 159 runs for eight wickets, which is nowhere near enough. Morgan mentioned how Ajinkya Rahane felt that 199 was a total they could chase down, but by the time the Titans were batting, it seemed like the ball wasn’t bouncing as expected. This made it tougher to hit boundaries, which hurt KKR’s chances.
Morgan noted that KKR lacked a rhythm in their innings and failed to form significant partnerships, which was a stark contrast to what the Gujarat Titans were able to do. He also took a moment to praise Prasidh Krishna, the Indian pacer for the Titans, who once again showed what he can do with the ball, taking two wickets for just 25 runs in his four overs. “He’s the current purple cap holder, and his bowling is getting better and better. We all know he can bowl with extra pace, but you have to respect how strong he is during those middle overs,” Morgan said. “As a captain, having a fast bowler who can deliver like that in the middle of a game is an absolute treasure.”
Krishna stands out in this year’s tournament with the most wickets, having four more than anyone else. Morgan is excited to see him progressing as a player and earning recognition at the national level.
On another note, former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu had some nice words for B Sai Sudharsan, who scored 52 runs off 36 balls, bringing his IPL tally to over 400 runs. Rayudu appreciates Sudharsan’s traditional style of batting. “Watching him play is such a pleasure. He approaches the game in a classical way, using the pace of the ball, keeping his shots controlled along the ground, and showcasing smart cricket. This sort of approach not only brings in runs but also helps build confidence,” Rayudu said. Sudharsan’s method on the field is a refreshing reminder that cricket can still be played with skill and finesse.
