KKR IPL 2025 form: 3 concerns for defending champions to fix before playoff race resumes – sportingnews.com

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Mayank Bande
Sportzpics, BCCI
Ajinkya Rahane KKR
The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, were one of the favourites to reach the playoffs at the start of the Indian Premier League 2025, but have been a mixed bag this season.
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After retaining most of their core from the triumphant season, everyone expected them to do well in this season, but the purple and gold have struggled for consistency during their title defence.
They have managed to get results in one way or the other but have failed to go on an extended winning run under their new skipper, Ajinkya Rahane.
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With the IPL suspended for the time being, TSN takes a look at the areas KKR need to improve to potentially reach the playoffs.
READ MORE: LSG IPL 2025 form: 3 Big problems Rishabh Pant & Lucknow must fix before playoff race resumes
KKR have blown hot and cold this season, and while they have had some impressive games, their losses have proven to be very costly. In their last 5 matches, they have won two, lost two, with one game being washed out.
Their recent form reads: L, NR, W, W, L, but another loss could potentially eliminate them from the playoff race.
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KKR will play 2 more matches following the resumption after the break in the season, and the maximum they can do is reach 15 points.
Nevertheless, to keep some hope alive, the following are the areas that KKR would want to improve in the remaining matches.
In the first 12 matches of the season, KKR played with 3 different opening partnerships:
However, neither of the openers have stitched together a 50-run stand at the top of the order.
Their best opening stand in the season has been 48 runs while only averaging 21.00 in 25.3 overs played. This has put pressure on their middle order and also led them to bring on their impact player early.
One of their biggest positives in the triumphant 2024 season was their depth in the batting and how the middle order contributed runs in tricky situations.
However, it has been one of their biggest let down especially that of they most expensive buy, Venkatesh Iyer, who has only managed to score 142 runs in the 7 innings, which includes a high of 60
Their number 4-7 batters have scored runs at an average of only 19.48, hurting the team in the second half of the innings. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi have been a light of hope among the struggling group of batters.
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While Narine has won them a couple of games with his spells of 3/13 vs CSK and 3/29 vs DC, the bowler has only managed to get 10 wickets in 11 matches, eight of them coming in only 3 matches.
His 2/14 vs PBKS resulted in a loss, while he has gone wicketless in six out of the 11 innings. His contributions with the ball have been very important for the success of the Knight Riders over the years and this dip in form has affected the team’s results.
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Mayank Bande is a content producer for The Sporting News’ India edition. 

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