Anil Kumble believes Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) could address their inconsistent form by altering their batting line-up. “They still haven’t figured out the perfect XI,” Kumble stated, pointing to the frequent shuffling of players as a contributing factor to their struggles. KKR, the defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, sit precariously with just seven points from nine matches, after their recent washout against Punjab Kings.
Saturday saw KKR introduce Chetan Sakariya as an injury replacement for Umran Malik, and hand Rovman Powell his debut for the team. While Sakariya bowled his allotted overs, Powell remained without a bat due to the weather interruption. KKR have yet to stabilise their playing XI, fielding a total of 18 players across the season, an issue Kumble believes they must resolve urgently.
“It’s not like they have won two games and need five in a row,” said Kumble on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, expressing uncertainty over their playoff prospects. With playoffs still a possibility, Kumble stressed the need for consistency, highlighting the necessity to maintain the same team in upcoming matches. “[The team] will have to continue with that in the next game,” he added.
Despite retaining much of last year’s championship squad, KKR’s key players, including big names like Quinton de Kock and Ajinkya Rahane, have not yet replicated past performances. “In terms of quality and ability, KKR have it in them,” Kumble insisted, noting that while the personnel hasn’t drastically changed, player performance has notably dipped.
The onus, Kumble suggests, is on the batsmen to find their form. “He needs that pace on the ball,” Kumble said about Venkatesh Iyer, advocating for Iyer’s return as an opener. In the IPL 2024 win, Iyer thrived in the powerplay with a strike rate of 220. “It’s where he can play his natural game, hit over the top. He’s done it in the past,” Kumble added.
Vaibhav Arora, opening bowler for KKR, conceded at the press conference: “We’re not happy or sad about the washout, but it’s better to get one point than nothing.” Reflecting on the team’s position, Arora noted the importance of the point gained from the washout but emphasised the need to win upcoming matches to remain in contention.
Danny Morrison, the cricket analyst, echoed this sentiment regarding KKR’s challenges this season, pointing to their “lot to do” scenario given the matches still left.
Ultimately, KKR’s path forward, as Kumble and others implied, lies in a settled line-up and a strategic injection of batting prowess, particularly from players like Venkatesh Iyer ideally placed to rejuvenate their campaign.
