Former India captain Anil Kumble has delivered a strong verdict on Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) disappointing season in IPL 2025. KKR, led by Ajinkya Rahane, are struggling to stay in the playoff race, and Kumble believes the mismanagement of star all-rounder Andre Russell is a big reason behind it.
Russell Batting Too Low, Says Kumble
Andre Russell has failed to make an impact with the bat this season, scoring just 45 runs in eight matches. Kumble pointed out that KKR have not given Russell enough opportunities by sending him too low in the batting order.
“I felt the utilisation of Andre Russell hasn’t been great from a KKR standpoint. Russell should bat higher. If he gets out on the first ball, it doesn’t matter — he should be sent earlier to finish games,” Kumble said during a media interaction.
He emphasized that by the time Russell comes to bat, the asking rate becomes too high, making it nearly impossible for him to turn the match around.
KKR’s Top-Order Struggles Adding Pressure
Kumble also highlighted that KKR’s opening partnerships, which were a strength last season with Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, are missing this year. This has put extra pressure on the middle order, and players like Venkatesh Iyer haven’t stepped up.
“KKR’s openers haven’t provided strong starts this season. That has increased the burden on the middle order. While Rahane is batting well, the team needs better support at the top,” Kumble added.
Hope Still Alive for KKR
Despite the setbacks, Kumble believes KKR still have the talent to turn things around.
“They have world-class spinners and two quality Indian pacers in Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora. It’s just about better decision-making and using the available resources smartly,” he said.
KKR must win at least five of their remaining matches to have a chance at making the playoffs. Their next challenge is a crucial match against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens, a team that defeated them earlier in the season.
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