How did KKR bottle the chase against LSG?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been a rollercoaster ride for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). After a disappointing start to the season, they finally managed to get their campaign back on track with a win against Delhi Capitals. However, their momentum was short-lived as they suffered a heartbreaking four-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their next match. KKR’s inconsistent performance continued, with a LWLWL record, leaving fans and experts wondering what went wrong.
In their chase against LSG, KKR seemed to be in control, with Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer putting on a strong partnership. However, Shardul Thakur’s intervention turned the tide, and LSG ultimately emerged victorious, denying KKR their first back-to-back wins of the season.
KKR’s top-order woes continued as they lost Venkatesh Iyer early, leaving them struggling at 34/2. Ajinkya Rahane, however, was in fine form, playing a patient innings of 55 runs off 42 balls. He was well supported by Sam Billings, who contributed 35 runs off 27 balls. The duo’s partnership of 83 runs for the third wicket seemed to be the turning point in the chase.
However, just as KKR seemed to be gaining momentum, Shardul Thakur’s double strike turned the match on its head. He removed Rahane and Billings in quick succession, leaving KKR reeling at 134/5. The visitors’ chase was further dented by the departure of Andre Russell, who was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi for a duck.
With the required run rate climbing, KKR’s lower-order batsmen found it difficult to keep up with the pace. Although Pat Cummins played a tidy innings of 24 runs off 16 balls, it was too little, too late. KKR ultimately fell short by four runs, despite a valiant effort from their lower order.
LSG’s bowlers, particularly Shardul Thakur, were the heroes of the match. Thakur’s remarkable spell of 3/24 in four overs not only disrupted KKR’s momentum but also set the tone for the rest of the match. His ability to extract pace and bounce from the surface made it difficult for KKR’s batsmen to settle.
Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan also chipped in with valuable wickets, restricting KKR’s scoring rate. Bishnoi’s 2/34 in four overs was particularly impressive, as he used his variations to keep the batsmen guessing.
KKR’s batting coach, Abhishek Nayar, was left ruing his team’s missed opportunities. “We were in a strong position with Rahane and Venkatesh at the crease, but Shardul’s intervention changed the complexion of the game,” he said. “We didn’t capitalize on the good start, and that cost us the match.”
KKR’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, also acknowledged that his team’s batting let them down. “We started well, but lost our way in the middle overs,” he said. “We need to work on our batting depth and finish games better.”
In conclusion, KKR’s loss against LSG was a classic case of missed opportunities. Despite being in control, they failed to capitalize on their good start and ultimately paid the price. Shardul Thakur’s remarkable spell will be remembered as the turning point in the match, and LSG’s bowlers will take a lot of credit for their team’s victory.
As KKR look to bounce back from this defeat, they will need to work on their batting and bowling departments. Their inconsistent performance this season has been a concern, and they will need to find a way to rectify it if they want to make a deep run in the tournament.
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