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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) came agonizingly close to chasing down a mammoth target set by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), falling short by just four runs in a nail-biting IPL 2025 clash. While bowlers were largely held accountable, former India opener Aakash Chopra took a dig at KKR’s batting order and decision-making in crunch situations.
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A Mixed Season for KKR So Far
After lifting the IPL title in 2024, the Knight Riders have had an inconsistent start to their 2025 campaign, managing two wins out of five games. With the squad loaded with match-winners, expectations were high. But questionable decisions in batting order have left fans and analysts alike puzzled.
Aakash Chopra Questions Rinku Singh’s Position
In his latest video on YouTube, Chopra expressed frustration over how Rinku Singh, one of KKR’s most reliable finishers, is being underutilized.
“Ramandeep came up the order. Raghuvanshi came up the order, and Rinku was sent down the order. I am still unable to understand this team’s batting order,” he said.
Chopra was particularly unimpressed with the late arrival of Rinku, who had too few balls to make an impact in the final overs. He emphasized that a flexible batting order is important, but the obsession with left-right combinations should not come at the cost of game-changing players getting sidelined.
“I request with folded hands that you should send Rinku Singh slightly up the order. Mandatorily needing a left-right combination does not work out all the time,” Chopra pleaded.
Missed Opportunity in the Final Overs
Chopra further noted that Harshit Rana’s inability to rotate strike in the last over may have cost KKR the game. According to him, had Rinku faced more deliveries, the outcome could have been different.
“If Harshit Rana had given him the strike in the end, you wouldn’t have lost by four runs. The run chase would have happened,” he added.
CSK vs KKR – The Southern Test Awaits
KKR will now travel to Chennai to face the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 11. This fixture holds extra weight, as Ajinkya Rahane—now captaining KKR—will face off against his former team. Coming off a disappointing loss, the Knight Riders will be desperate to set things right and reassert their title credentials.
Whether KKR will heed Chopra’s heartfelt advice and promote Rinku Singh up the order remains to be seen—but one thing is clear, Rinku’s presence earlier in the innings could very well tip the scale in KKR’s favour.
