New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders’ Finn Allen (PTI Photo) Finn Allen produced a career-defining first IPL century to power Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals and after the match, he became interested in changing the mindset behind his explosive turnaround. Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls and reached his ton with an impressive tenth six as KKR chased down 143 with 34 balls to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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Is everything wrong with Suryakumar Yadav’s wrist? | Exclusive visuals After being named man of the match, the New Zealand batsman reflected on how he has struggled to develop his game after a difficult start to the season. “(Is this almost Finn Allen 2.0?) Yeah, I mean, you know what I’ve been working on is trying to make my bow have more strings,” Allen said. He admitted that the early setbacks forced him to take a more responsible approach when KKR lost quick wickets during the chase. “Obviously we lost a couple of early goals so I just tried to have a little bit of responsibility and get a win on the board for the guys,” he added. Allen explained that he had to consciously shift gears during the innings, especially against quality spin bowling. “It was still a bit challenging at the beginning, Axar was jumping really well and limiting us. So I just tried to get into strong positions and hit deep,” he said. Despite being known for his aggressive six-strikes, Allen emphasized that adaptability has become a key part of his batting. “If it’s not easy, hang in there… I think that’s the model I’ve been trying to make with my bat,” he noted. Allen credited his work with coaches Shane Watson and Abhishek Nayar for helping him develop a more complete approach. He also revealed that earlier frustrations in the tournament stemmed from failing to convert starts. “I feel like I’m down a few starts and it’s been pretty frustrating, but it’s nice to have a little bit of personal success here,” Allen said. The Kiwi batsman also talked about the pace of his innings in high-pressure chases. “When that situation arises, you just forget about my bat and play the situation. When I stay there for a long time, I try to hit 40 balls,” he explained. Allen added that time away from the starting lineup at the start of the season helped reset his mindset. “Sometimes it changes your perspective. You leave the team, you get a little fresher. I put too much pressure on myself in the beginning,” he said. This reset combined with improved clarity has now translated into one of the most devastating innings of IPL 2026 and a timely revival for KKR in the playoff race.
