Sunil Narine of Kolkata Knight Riders (Photo by ANI) Kolkata Knight Riders’ start to the season has been far from ideal. They are still chasing their first win but have only a single point to show for their efforts, earned in a rain-hit clash against Punjab Kings. For a side with three IPL titles to their name, the early signs were worrying as both the batting and bowling units were yet to find a rhythm.Much has been focused on their batting, especially the way Sunil Narine has been used. Once a destructive force at the top, Narine has been pushed down the order this season, reducing his impact. The decision raised eyebrows, especially considering his success as a starter in KKR’s championship runs. At the same time, Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership has also come under scrutiny as the team searches for answers.
Watch
Ajinkya Rahane press conference: KKR skipper backs bowlers, hits back at SR critics KKR’s high-profile acquisition Cameron Green has yet to perform impressively, putting pressure on his place in the playing XI. Meanwhile, Finn Allen has shown flashes of promise up top but has been unable to turn his fast starts into meaningful scores.Former KKR batsman Manoj Tiwary weighed in on the situation and emphasized the importance of strong leadership during challenging phases. He also expressed his support for Narine’s return to the opening role, citing his past success in the position.“As a leader, it’s important to show leadership that even when you’re losing, you have to make sure the atmosphere in the dressing room and in the hotels, make sure there’s not much discussion about how the team is losing matches. I still think Sunil Narine should open KKR. Because when KKR became champions, he made 488 runs. The advantage of his peak is that he bowls at a rate of 100, when he gets the shot out, he doesn’t waste too many balls,” said Manoj Tiwary on Cricbuzz.Tiwary further suggested that KKR should adopt a more aggressive mindset in the powerplay. He backed the opening pair of Allen and Narine while calling for opportunities for Tim Seifert in the lineup. He noted that Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been consistent but tends to lose momentum once set.“So open with Finn Allen and Sunil Narine and then be flexible. I also want to see Tim Seifert. I think the batting order will be decided after that. We see teams scoring 90-100 runs in the powerplay, I want to see the same from KKR. Raghuvanshi is doing well but he will end up stuck in 130 when there are so many. they can score at a strike rate of 180-200, you should give them more balls to play in the innings,” he elaborated.With results not going their way, KKR are facing mounting pressure to quickly rethink their approach and unlock the potential in a team that on paper has the firepower to turn things around.
