IPL 2025: Knight Riders' Top-Order Troubles Mount as Opening Pair Flounders Again
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.
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.
Despite trying four different openers, KKR has failed to find stability:
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.
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.
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.
Kolkata Knight Riders, KKR opening pair, IPL 2025, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, Moeen Ali, KKR vs Gujarat Titans, opening partnership failures, IPL stats, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, KKR batting collapse
Actor Mithun Chakraborty has seemingly let a major secret slip about Jailer 2, confirming that…
The death of Peng Peiyun, a former senior official who once headed China’s Family Planning…
A fun family reel featuring Rupali Ganguly’s mother, Rajani Ganguly, has taken social media by…
Thailand has issued an official clarification following international criticism over the demolition of a Lord…
The release of Sarvam Maya has sparked lively discussions on social media, with many viewers…
The much-anticipated romantic drama Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri finally released in…
