While pundits and social media spent weeks dissecting Ajinkya Rahane’s tactical decisions and polarizing the KKR captaincy, the mood in the Kolkata Knight Riders camp remained a world away from the outside noise. Fresh off a breathtaking, historic 35-ball 93 against Gujarat Titans, explosive opener Finn Allen spoke candidly about how the captain and support staff built the environment for success during the latter part of the tournament.
In the post-match press conference following their 29-run win over GT at the Eden Gardens, Allen explained how a nightmare start had led to the team taking a microscopic match-by-match approach.
“One thing we’ve done really well this season is stay composed. Even though we’ve had a rough start, the locker room has remained calm and that’s a credit to the support staff and Jinx for pushing that mindset in the group,” Allen said.
KKR vs GT, IPL 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
“We know we need to win the last two games to have any chance of qualifying, so our focus is simply on preparing well, training hard and doing our job.”
Inside Finn Allen’s mental turnaround
Allen arrived at IPL 2026 as one of the most feared T20 openers in the worldpp. However, his transition into the tournament was far from smooth, leading to a string of low scores and ultimately dropping him from the playing eleven. “At the beginning of the tournament I put too much pressure on myself to perform and it was all self-inflicted,” Allen admitted.
Ironically, a stint on the sidelines provided the perfect recipe for the New Zealand batter to rediscover his explosive form. By withdrawing from the boundary ropes, he managed to detach himself from the crushing weight of external expectations. “When you’re out, you have time to relax, take a breath and look at things differently,” he explained.
“I love playing cricket and batting, but I probably didn’t enjoy it as much because of the pressure I put on myself. Those few games outside the game really helped me and it was a great learning experience.”
KKR Play-off Scenarios: How Can Kolkata Qualify?
With a decisive win over Gujarat TitansKKR successfully kept their mathematical playoff hopes alive. It marks a star turn for Ajinkya Rahane’s side, who were languishing at the bottom of the points table after securing a single point from the opening six encounters. Now sitting on 11 points with two league games remaining, KKR’s equation is straightforward but ruthless. They must win both of their remaining matches to reach the maximum limit of 15 points, as any further forfeit means immediate elimination.
Even with a perfect finish, KKR needs a favorable scenario from external results to sneak into the top four. They demand the Punjab Royals to drop crucial points while also hoping that both Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings stumble significantly in the final stretch.
The mandate for Rahane’s men remains clear: secure maximum points comprehensively and hope their mid-table opponents slip away.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
17 May 2026 11:17 IST
