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Rahane, Bravo Slam KKR Batting After Fifth Loss in IPL 2025
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) find themselves in trouble once again, losing their fifth match in eight games this IPL 2025 season. After a 39-run defeat to Gujarat Titans, captain Ajinkya Rahane and mentor Dwayne Bravo didn’t hold back in criticizing the team’s underperforming batting unit.
Batting, Not Bowling, the Problem
Despite chasing a big target of 199, Rahane said he had no complaints with the bowlers. “We bowled really well,” he stated, “but our batting let us down. We’re struggling to get strong starts up top.”
KKR’s openers—Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine—lasted only five balls in this game. Their opening partnerships have averaged just 19.00, the worst this season.
Bravo: “Team Has Lost Confidence”
In the post-match press conference, Bravo expressed concern about the overall batting mindset. “It’s not just Russell, the whole team is low on confidence,” he said. “The batters are practicing hard, but it’s not clicking.”
Andre Russell, known for his explosive finishes, has managed only 55 runs in six innings. Bravo pointed out that Russell often walks in with the required run rate already at 14-15, making his job near impossible.
Raghuvanshi Held Back Too Long?
One surprising move was pushing Angkrish Raghuvanshi down to No. 9, despite his good form. Bravo explained the left-right combo strategy to counter Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore, but it backfired as the game was already lost when Raghuvanshi got a chance. KKR vs CSK 2025: Full Match Review and Player Ratings
Looking Ahead
Rahane remains optimistic. “We just need to bat well in the middle overs and start strong at the top,” he said. “This game is about being brave. Think about runs, not wickets.”
With KKR now on the edge in the playoff race, a quick turnaround is necessary—and it must start with the bat.
