With just 152 runs in 8 matches and the lowest average among all teams, Kolkata Knight Riders’ unstable opening pair remains a major concern in their faltering title defense.
📍Kolkata | April 22, 2025
The Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) opening combination woes hit a new low in their latest clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday, as yet another dismal start contributed to their 39-run defeat at Eden Gardens in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Chasing a daunting target of 199, KKR handed the gloves and opening duties to Rahmanullah Gurbaz in place of Quinton de Kock, but the Afghan batter managed just 1 run before being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj in the very first over. His opening partner, Sunil Narine, provided a brief spark with 17 runs off 13 balls, but perished trying to force the pace, caught by Rahul Tewatia off Rashid Khan’s bowling.
⚠️ The Worst-Performing Opening Pair in IPL 2025
KKR’s opening partnerships have now amassed just 152 runs in 8 innings, at an average of 19.00 — the lowest among all teams this season.
Even their strike rate of 8.44 ranks second-last in the tournament, better only than Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Their highest stand so far is a modest 46 runs, underlining a complete failure to provide solid starts.
🔄 Rotating Openers, No Solution
Despite trying four different openers, KKR has failed to find stability:
- Quinton de Kock – 143 runs in 7 innings (Avg: 23.83, SR: 137.50)
- Sunil Narine – 147 runs in 7 innings (Avg: 21.00, SR: 177.10)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 1 run in 1 inning
- Moeen Ali – 5 runs in 1 inning
The inconsistent performances have led to a string of forgettable partnerships: 4, 41, 1, 14, 37, 46, 7, and 2 — all failing to offer any platform for the middle order to capitalize.
🧮 Match Impact
The early wickets in the powerplay have continually put pressure on the rest of the batting unit, and Monday’s match was no exception. The poor start left Ajinkya Rahane to do the heavy lifting alone, with little support following his half-century.
📊 The Bigger Picture
With KKR currently languishing in the bottom half of the points table, and their title defense faltering, the lack of firepower up top is now a glaring tactical flaw that the management needs to address urgently.
📌 Tags:
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