Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have struggled with batting points throughout this IPL season and the modifications made for the house sport in opposition to Gujarat Titans weren’t efficient, feels former captain Eoin Morgan.
KKR’s loss to Gujarat Titans by 39 runs right here on Monday (April 21, 2025) was their second consecutive defeat within the match, third within the final 5 matches and general fifth in eight video games.
It has additionally been a season of battle at house for the three-time champions who’ve additionally misplaced three of the 4 matches on the Eden Gardens.
“Kolkata Knight Riders has simply not bounced back as well as we would have liked them to. It’s always a good sign for a strong team with a lot of character around, but they had the same failures that they’ve shown throughout the tournament,” said JioStar expert Morgan.
“They made a few modifications (in opposition to GT), primarily to attempt to achieve some impetus of their batting line-up, and it did not essentially come off. Were the modifications price it? They’ll sit again and say no.” Morgan said KKR failed to forge partnerships in chase of 199 as they finished at an ordinary 159 for eight.
“It was attention-grabbing to listen to Ajinkya Rahane discuss 199 being a chaseable rating as a result of in the direction of the again finish of Gujarat Titans’ innings, we thought the ball held up greater than we anticipated (and) that made discovering boundaries more durable,” he said.
Morgan added, “But there was no rhythm, no substantial partnerships — virtually the polar reverse of what Gujarat Titans displayed.” Morgan was all praise for India and GT pacer Prasidh Krishna who delivered another vital spell of 4-0-25-2.
“He’s the purple cap holder for the time being, and his rhythm simply retains getting higher. We know he has that additional little bit of tempo to work with, however it’s important to admire the power he brings throughout the center section of the sport,” he stated.
“As a captain, having a seamer who can make that kind of impact in the middle overs is absolutely priceless.” “He now finds himself with the most wickets in this year’s tournament — by some margin, actually, by four. It’s great to see him growing as a player, evolving across formats, and now being rewarded with national honours as well,” Morgan added.
Meanwhile, former India batter Ambati Rayudu praised B Sai Sudharsan, who made 36-ball 52 to take his tally past 400-run mark in this IPL, for playing the game in “conventional model”.
Rayudu said, “It offers us such pleasure to observe him bat. As a classical batsman, he exhibits how the sport can nonetheless be performed in a standard model — (to) use the tempo of the ball, play beneath your eyes, hold it alongside the bottom, and play good cricket. Playing good cricket brings runs and in addition builds confidence.”
Published – April 22, 2025 11:38 am IST
