Former Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch did not hold back in his criticism of the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) strategy during their match against the Gujarat Titans in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) at Eden Gardens on Tuesday. The team, led by Ajinkya Rahane, fell short by 39 runs, unable to chase down a target of 199 runs. At the conclusion of the first ten overs, KKR's score stood at 68/2, with Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer at the crease.

Rahane managed to score 50 runs off 36 deliveries, while Venkatesh Iyer struggled significantly, contributing only 14 runs from 19 balls without hitting a single boundary. 

The lower order, featuring Andre Russell (21 runs off 15 balls), Rinku Singh (17 runs off 14 balls), and Ramandeep Singh (1 run off 2 balls), also failed to make a significant impact. This defeat has severely jeopardized KKR's chances of reaching the playoffs, as they now need to secure victories in at least five of their remaining six matches to qualify.

"You must approach spin with intent. If your instinct is merely to nudge the ball into the leg side for a single, you won't hit sixes or boundaries. That mindset leads to failure, and it was astonishing to witness such a lack of aggression. With nine batters in the lineup, one would expect them to be highly aggressive from the outset, aiming to either match or exceed the required run rate, allowing for some leeway as the pitch deteriorates," Finch remarked on ESPNCricinfo's 'Timeout'.

"In my view, their approach to chasing a target of 200 was fundamentally flawed. With nine batters, there was no need for a cautious rebuild. After ten overs, the game was effectively over. They allowed the required run rate to spiral out of control. It was perplexing to see them merely trying to nudge the ball around. Their innings was very unusual. It seemed as if they entered the match with the mindset of avoiding a heavy defeat, almost settling for a score of 160 and thinking that would suffice."

'Venkatesh didn't play the role he should have'

IndiaTest specialist Cheteshwar Pujara concurred with Aaron Finch, asserting that Venkatesh Iyer did not fulfill his responsibilities adequately. Nonetheless, he also criticized the management for failing to communicate effectively during KKR's middle-order batting.

"There are instances when a batter perceives the conditions as somewhat difficult. You may want to play conservatively, but during a timeout, when coaches and support staff convene, a new strategy is formulated, leading to the realization that 'this approach isn't working, and we are leaving too many runs on the table,'" he remarked.

"I acknowledge that Venkatesh did not perform the role expected of him. However, was he instructed to simply play defensively against Rashid and avoid aggressive shots? I am uncertain about the clarity of the message," he continued.

The former India No. 3 batter expressed concerns regarding the strategies employed by Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer, suggesting that they should have better evaluated the pitch conditions and aimed to score at least 90 runs within the first ten overs, as the pitch was likely to become more challenging later on.

"It was not a pitch where one could afford to leave too many runs unscored. It wasn't a flat surface where one could easily accumulate 60-70 runs in the final five overs. It appears they did not bowl effectively in the first innings, as there was sufficient turn available," Pujara stated.

"They should have aimed to chase a target of around 180. On that pitch, if you are conceding more than ten runs per over in the last ten overs, you are perpetually behind in the game. You must strive to be close to 90 runs in the first ten overs," he concluded.

Read Also: IPL in a Month: Five Key Highlights - Dhoni's Run-Out and Vaibhav's Debut Stand Out

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!