IPL 2025: Five reasons why Kolkata Knight Riders' title defence went off course

IPL 2025: Five reasons why Kolkata Knight Riders' title defence went off course (BCCI Photo)

Kolkata Knight Riders' hopes of defending their IPL title have all but evaporated following a disheartening loss to the bottom-placed Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. While they are still mathematically alive in the playoff race, the path ahead is a steep uphill climb, relying on an unlikely series of results and a significant turnaround in form. Despite entering the season with a strong core and a good looking squad, KKR have faltered. Here's a look at where it all went wrong for the defending champions:

Poor Decision-Making and Tactical Missteps

From toss calls to batting order reshuffles, the leadership group’s decision-making has often been underwhelming. The team has failed to fully utilize key assets — Andre Russell has barely been used with the ball, Rinku Singh hasn’t been given a consistent opportunity higher up the order, and Anrich Nortje’s limited involvement remains puzzling. Even as regular bowlers leaked runs, part-time options like Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku were overlooked. On top of that, a lack of clarity in batting roles was apparent, reflecting a failure in planning and communication from the management.

Operation Sindoor: PBKS vs MI fixture on May 11 moved to Ahmedabad from Dharamsala

Venkatesh Iyer Succumbs to Price Tag Pressure

With each outing, Venkatesh Iyer seemed to be weighed down by expectations (AP Photo)

Venkatesh entered the season with a hefty price tag of Rs 23.75 crore and the added burden of vice-captaincy under Ajinkya Rahane. The pressure clearly showed. In 11 innings, Iyer managed only 142 runs at a modest average of 20.29. With each outing, he seemed to be weighed down by expectations. To make matters worse, he missed KKR’s must-win clash against CSK due to injury. A campaign that began with promise for Iyer ended with disappointment, leaving the franchise short on firepower when it mattered most.

Middle Muddle and Spin Woes

Ajinkya Rahane has a strike rate under 120 and an average below 20 against spin (IPL Photo)

Despite regularly facing two of the best spinners in the league during practice, KKR’s batting lineup consistently struggled against spin in the middle overs. Ajinkya Rahane, their top run-scorer this season, has a strike rate under 120 and an average below 20 against spin. Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh also failed to find rhythm against slower bowlers. In key games—against CSK (at home), RCB (season opener), and PBKS in Mullanpur — KKR lost momentum and wickets during spin-dominated middle phases. Between overs 7-15, KKR have the worst dot ball percentage this season, exceeding 35 percent, underlining their inability to rotate strike and maintain pressure on the opposition.

No Fortress at Home

The Eden Gardens pitch has been a subject of much debate this season — starting with Rahane's call for more turn, followed by conflicting comments from the curator. The noise around the surface didn’t help KKR’s cause, as they failed to capitalize on home advantage. With just two wins in seven home games and one washout, KKR never found their footing in familiar conditions. Their batters struggled to adapt, while pacers delivered better performances away than at home. Successful IPL campaigns are often built on home dominance — something KKR sorely lacked in 2025.

Opening Woes

Quinton de Kock in action during IPL 2025

Last season, KKR’s title-winning run was powered by a strong, consistent opening pair — Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, who amassed 559 runs together with five 50-plus stands and a century partnership. This season, however, the top order has been a revolving door. From Quinton de Kock to Rahmanullah Gurbaz and even Moeen Ali, KKR failed to find a stable combination. Narine, a key figure last year, hasn’t been able to replicate his form. The lack of consistency and intent at the top has hurt their powerplays and set a poor platform for the rest of the innings. Like other teams, they could’ve taken a chance on an unknown commodity like Luvnith Sisodia, but they never dared to do so — even when the established names failed to deliver.