KKR’s Playoff Dreams Crushed After Washout, Finch Blames Poor Season Planning
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions of IPL 2025, have been knocked out of playoff contention after their must-win clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was washed out on Saturday. The no-result leaves KKR stranded at 12 points from 13 games—well short of the qualification mark—with only one game left to play.
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch didn’t hold back in his criticism, stating that KKR “only have themselves to blame” for their early exit. Speaking on JioHotstar, Finch pointed out key missteps in the team’s campaign, particularly their poor use of star all-rounder Andre Russell.
“It didn’t start well for them. Andre Russell, being the match-winner that he is and has been for such a long time, was batting too far down the order for much of the tournament. He simply wasn’t given the opportunities to influence games the way he can. They’ve only got themselves to blame,” Finch remarked.
The match against RCB was crucial for KKR, as a win would have kept their slim playoff hopes alive—provided other results also went their way and their net run rate improved. But the rain played spoilsport, giving both teams one point each. While the point pushed RCB to the top of the table with 17 points from 12 matches, it sealed KKR’s fate.
Finch further highlighted the two-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 7 as a critical turning point in KKR’s campaign. “They almost kicked themselves after that last game against CSK – it was theirs to win. The match was almost wrapped up, and they still couldn’t cross the line, which turned out to be an incredible win for Chennai,” he said.
“Throughout the season, there were too many moments where KKR just didn’t click,” Finch added, summing up the inconsistencies that haunted the side.
KKR will now play their final league game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 25, a fixture that holds no bearing on their playoff chances but will be a matter of pride and evaluation for the future.
With their title defence ending in disappointment, the franchise now faces big questions ahead of the next season—especially around leadership, strategy, and player roles.
