KKR Coach Slams Ajinkya Rahane & Sunil Narine, Top Order Under Fire

Kolkata Knight Riders' mentor Dwayne Bravo hasn’t minced words following their 39-run defeat to Gujarat Titans. While most of the chatter was around Andre Russell’s patchy form this season, Bravo was quick to point out that the issues run much deeper — especially at the top of the order.

Speaking after Monday’s loss at Eden Gardens, Bravo defended Russell, who managed just 21 off 15 balls, saying the big-hitting Jamaican wasn’t the only one underperforming. "Andre Russell is an experienced and successful player. Yes, he’s been dismissed a couple of times by leg-spinners, but I don’t think the issue lies with just him," Bravo said. "We’re not batting well as a team. We have to accept that. It’s important we back each other and keep working hard. The IPL is a tough competition, and if you don’t start well, even the best batters can lose confidence." 

Bravo stressed that the lack of strong starts from the top-order has left the finishers with too much to do, too often. "Every time Russell walks out to bat, the run rate is already through the roof — 14 or 15 runs per over. That’s not an ideal situation for any finisher. If the top-order does its job, Russell and Rinku can do what they’re known for — close out games." 

The Knight Riders have experimented with their lineup in search of answers. They brought in Rahmanullah Gurbaz in place of Quinton de Kock, while Venkatesh Iyer was pushed down to No.4. But the reshuffle didn’t bear fruit, with Narine and Gurbaz failing to give a platform and Iyer struggling for fluency. 

KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who scored a composed 50 off 36 balls, also acknowledged that the batters — especially the openers — haven’t done enough this season. "I thought 199 was a chaseable target, especially after how we pulled things back with the ball," Rahane said after the match. "But again, we didn’t get the kind of start we needed. That’s been our biggest issue throughout the tournament. We have to address it quickly and learn fast." 

With five losses in eight games and just three wins under their belt, the defending champions now find themselves in a tough spot. Time is running out, and unless the top-order steps up, KKR could be staring at an early exit from IPL 2025. 

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