On a midweek double header day, cricket fans of India enjoyed a batting show as the Kolkata Knight Riders faced Lucknow Super Giants on April 8, 2025, at Eden Gardens. The match turned into a run fiesta as players from both teams delivered an edge-of-the-seat display. However, after the defeat, KKR's unexpected batting order shift tipped the scales, sparking a wave of criticism from the fans.
Kolkata Knight Riders were riding high on confidence after a massive win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad. But as cricket never fails to surprise fans, KKR’s batting order did it for them. Chasing a huge target of 239 runs, KKR’s batting order shift proved detrimental. While opening the innings, Quinton de Kock walked away scoring 15 runs and Sunil Narine departed scoring 30 runs in just 13 balls.
Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer formed a steady partnership that seemed to boost their innings. At one point, KKR was comfortably placed at 162/2 in the 13th over. However, the batting order change shifted the tide dramatically. Ramandeep Singh was sent in early, while Rinku Singh and Andre Russell had to wait longer than expected for their turn. Coming to bat at number 5, Ramandeep departed with a disappointing score of only 1 run.
As the innings progressed, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Andre Russell couldn’t make a significant impact. When Rinku finally came in at number 8, the damage was already done, with LSG bowlers tightening their grip over the game. Despite this, Rinku Singh managed to play an unbeaten fiery knock of 38 runs in just 15 deliveries, boasting an impressive strike rate of 253.33. However, it was too late to salvage the match, as LSG secured the win by a narrow margin of just 4 runs.
The match saw Lucknow Super Giants post a formidable total of 238 for 3 in their 20 overs, with Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh leading the charge. Pooran reached his half-century in just 22 balls and remained unbeaten on 87, while Marsh scored a well-crafted 81 off 48 balls. KKR's bowlers struggled to contain the LSG batsmen, with Harshit Rana managing to claim two wickets, dismissing Aiden Markram just three runs short of his fifty and Abdul Samad for six.
After the match, fans took to social media to express their frustration over KKR's batting order decisions. One fan tweeted, "Can’t understand why KKR sent Rinku Singh so late in a tough chase?" Another added, "What a fumble from KKR. Also, who sent Ramandeep & Raghuvanshi before Russell and Rinku? That guy should be punished for this loss." Many fans echoed similar sentiments, questioning the logic behind the batting order change that cost KKR a match that seemed to be in their grasp.
Following this defeat, KKR now sits at 6th position on the points table with 2 wins and 3 defeats from 5 matches, accumulating just 4 points. They are set to face the Chennai Super Kings on April 11, 2025, and will be looking to bounce back stronger.
In the pre-match discussions, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane mentioned, "Wicket looks really good. Temperature hasn’t been very hot, there won’t be much change in the pitch.” He added, “Not thinking about the previous games too much. Just looking at the positives. We are playing the same team.” Meanwhile, LSG captain Rishabh Pant expressed confidence in his team, stating they were ready to clinch the crucial two points from this fixture.
KKR made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Spencer Johnson in place of Moeen Ali, while LSG retained the same XI that had defeated the Mumbai Indians. This match showcased the unpredictability of T20 cricket, where every decision can turn the tide, and KKR learned this lesson the hard way.
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, every match becomes crucial, and KKR will need to reassess their strategies and batting order if they hope to improve their standings. With the next match against Chennai Super Kings, KKR fans will be hoping for a more calculated approach to ensure they secure a victory and keep their playoff hopes alive.
