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KKR’s loss to Gujarat Titans by 39 runs in Kolkata on Monday was their second consecutive defeat within the tournament, third within the last five matches and overall, fifth in eight games.
Kolkata Knight Riders have managed to win just three matches to this point. (PTI Photo)
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have struggled with batting issues throughout this IPL season and the changes made for the house game against Gujarat Titans weren’t effective, feels former captain Eoin Morgan.
KKR‘s loss to Gujarat Titans by 39 runs in Kolkata on Monday was their second consecutive defeat within the tournament, third within the last five matches and overall, fifth in eight games.
It has also been a season of struggle at home for the three-time champions who’ve also lost three of the 4 matches on the Eden Gardens.
“Kolkata Knight Riders has simply not bounced back in addition to we’d have liked them to. It’s at all times a great sign for a powerful team with numerous character around, but that they had the identical failures that they’ve shown throughout the tournament,” Morgan said.
“They made a few changes (against GT), mainly to try to gain some impetus of their batting line-up, and it didn’t necessarily come off. Were the changes price it? They’ll sit back and say no.”
Morgan said KKR didn’t forge partnerships in chase of 199 as they finished at an peculiar 159 for eight.
“It was interesting to listen to Ajinkya Rahane discuss 199 being a chaseable rating because towards the back end of Gujarat Titans’ innings, we thought the ball held up greater than we expected (and) that made finding boundaries harder,” he said.
Morgan added, “But there was no rhythm, no substantial partnerships — almost the polar opposite of what Gujarat Titans displayed.”
Morgan was all praise for India and GT pacer Prasidh Krishna who delivered one other vital spell of 4-0-25-2.
“He’s the purple cap holder in the intervening time, and his rhythm just keeps recovering. We all know he has that extra little bit of pace to work with, but you’ve to admire the strength he brings in the course of the middle phase of the sport,” he said.
“As a captain, having a seamer who could make that sort of impact in the center overs is totally priceless.”
“He now finds himself with essentially the most wickets on this 12 months’s tournament — by some margin, actually, by 4. It’s great to see him growing as a player, evolving across formats, and now being rewarded with national honours as well,” Morgan added.
Meanwhile, former India batter Ambati Rayudu praised B Sai Sudharsan, who made 36-ball 52 to take his tally past 400-run mark on this IPL, for taking part in the sport in “traditional style”.
Rayudu said, “It gives us such joy to look at him bat. As a classical batsman, he shows how the sport can still be played in a standard style — (to) use the pace of the ball, play under your eyes, keep it along the bottom, and play smart cricket. Playing smart cricket brings runs and in addition builds confidence.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
