
Kolkata Knight Riders Struggle to Find Momentum
Dwayne Bravo, the Mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders, admitted that the team's batters failed to assess the conditions well and apply themselves better following the loss against Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens.
KKR's Powerplay Struggles
KKR struggled to find momentum in the powerplay, scoring only 45 runs and losing both their openers. In contrast, Gujarat Titans had a similar score on the board at that stage of their innings, but with both their openers still in the middle.
Middle Order Collapse
Ajnkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer managed to score only 23 runs in the four overs after the powerplay. Rahane hit a few boundaries, but Iyer continued to struggle, and both batters were dismissed in quick succession, leaving KKR tottering at 91 for 4.
Andre Russell's Struggles
Andre Russell's 15-ball 21 on the night was his highest score this season, but he was dismissed by Rashid Khan. Bravo continued to back Russell, dismissing concerns of his game against legspin.
Confidence Issues
Bravo admitted that the KKR batters are going through a period where they are low on confidence. He insisted that if the top order bats well, it will allow the finishers to play their role better.
Pitch Not an Issue
Bravo didn't want to entertain the issue of pitch as the reason for the loss, stating that "nothing is wrong with the wicket." He felt that both teams played on the wicket and that KKR simply didn't play a good game of cricket.