Overview
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fell 39 runs short in their chase of 199 against Gujarat Titans, managing only 68/2 at the ten-over mark.
- Aaron Finch criticized KKR's timid approach, calling it a 'horrible mindset' and highlighting Venkatesh Iyer's slow 14 off 19 balls as a momentum killer.
- Finch questioned why KKR, with nine batters in their lineup, did not adopt an aggressive strategy upfront to meet the high required run rate.
- Cheteshwar Pujara pointed to unclear strategic messaging from KKR's management, suggesting it may have contributed to Venkatesh Iyer's conservative play.
- The defeat leaves KKR needing five wins from their remaining six matches to keep their playoff hopes alive in IPL 2025.