Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Dwayne Bravo has openly criticized the team’s top-order batsmen following their disappointing performance against Gujarat Titans, which led to a 39-run defeat in IPL 2025. Bravo came to the defense of all-rounder Andre Russell, whose 21 runs off 15 balls marked his highest score of the season, but pointed out that the burden of responsibility lies heavily on the top-order for not giving the team strong starts.
Speaking to reporters at Eden Gardens, Bravo highlighted that while Russell has faced challenges, especially against wrist spinners like Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan, the overall failure of the top-order has made it difficult for finishers to perform their roles effectively. “Andre Russell is a seasoned player. Although he has been dismissed by leg-spinners a few times, the reality is we are not batting well as a team. The issue is not just with DreRuss. It’s a collective struggle,” Bravo stated.
The match saw Russell starting aggressively with a boundary and six off Washington Sundar but struggling once spinners took over. Rashid Khan’s googly eventually led to Russell’s stumping. This was the second time in the tournament that a leg-spinner dismissed Russell, having previously been taken out by Suyash Sharma of RCB.
Despite this, Bravo downplayed concerns over Russell’s form, saying that high required run rates when he enters to bat put undue pressure on him. “Most times Russell comes in, the required run rate is already around 14 to 15 runs per over. It’s not fair to expect miracles every time. We need the top-order to lay the foundation,” he added.
The KKR lineup saw a change in the batting order with Rahmanullah Gurbaz replacing Quinton de Kock and Venkatesh Iyer pushed to No.4. Still, the strategy didn’t yield results. Openers Sunil Narine and Gurbaz failed to capitalize in the powerplay, while Venkatesh Iyer (14 off 19) and Ajinkya Rahane (50 off 36) failed to maintain the required scoring pace.
Rahane, who captained the side, acknowledged the team’s lack of strong starts. “We felt 199 was a chaseable total. Our bowlers did well to bring us back into the game, but we’ve struggled to get going at the top. That’s been the pattern throughout the season,” he said during the post-match ceremony.
While KKR bowlers have shown signs of progress, the inconsistency of the batting unit, especially in the powerplay and middle overs, remains a critical issue. Rahane admitted improvements are needed urgently if the team hopes to remain competitive in the tournament.
