The Kolkata Knight Riders seemed to be in cruise control in their daunting 239-run chase till the 13th over of their IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants. It was when captain Ajinkya Rahane chipped a Shardul Thakur full toss straight to the covers in the last ball of the 13th over that things started to turn in LSG’s favour. KKR did not help their cause by delaying the arrival of Andre Russell and Rinku Singh – two of their biggest hitters.
Russell batted at No.7 while Rinku was sent in after him. In the end, KKR lost the match by four runs despite a late onslaught from Rinku. As soon as the match ended, former India batter Mohammad Kaif said slammed the KKR team management for playing Russel at No.7 and Rinku at No.8 in a run chase where the required rate was 12 runs from the start.
Kaif said KKR need to let go of their obsession with maintaining the right-left combination and instead focus on the batter’s overall ability.
“KKR needs to avoid taking right-left theory too seriously. When chasing 239, you can’t play Rusell at No.7 and Rinku at No. 8. Way too late for your big hitters,” Kaif wrote on X.
After Rahane’s dismissal for a well-made 61 off 35 balls, KKR sent Ramandeep Singh at No.5 when they needed 77 runs off 42 balls. The right-hander was out for 1 off 2 balls and there was still no sign of either Russell or Rinku as in walked Angrish Raghuvanshi, who has been in good form in this IPL but is not known as someone who would tear apart bowling attacks with his big hitting.
