KKR Reflects on Loss to MI, Focuses on Learnings and Future Performance
Mumbai, India – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered an eight-wicket loss against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Following the match, KKR all-rounder Ramandeep Singh offered insights into the team’s assessment of the performance and their outlook for the remainder of the tournament.
Key Highlights of the Match
- KKR's Innings: Ramandeep Singh's quickfire knock of 22 runs off 12 balls, Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 26 runs off 16 balls, and Andre Russell’s twin strikes offered glimpses of resilience for KKR.
- MI's Chase: Mumbai Indians comfortably chased down the target of 117, demonstrating their dominance on the day.
Ramandeep Singh’s Post-Match Assessment
Addressing the media in a post-match press conference, Ramandeep Singh acknowledged the team's collapse and emphasized the importance of learning from setbacks. “Any team can collapse, regardless of the situation. Obviously, that gives the lower order an opportunity, but we were unlucky tonight. We’ll do our best to make sure we don’t find ourselves in a similar situation going ahead in the tournament.”
Backing the Aggressive Approach
KKR remains committed to its aggressive batting strategy, as highlighted by Singh. “We back every player in the team to follow their natural instincts. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out, but it is important for us to back our players, so they can give their hundred percent and play to their attacking instincts.” He further elaborated that while partnerships are crucial, a successful aggressive approach could have altered the narrative. “We understand that partnerships are very important but had the attacking approach paid off for Angkrish and Rinku, we would be crediting them for their performance. Sometimes it’s not your day. There are always learnings from every game.”
Impact of the Toss and Pitch Conditions
Singh recognized the significance of winning the toss, conceding that Mumbai Indians had an advantage. “It was a good toss to win for MI. They did have an advantage because even in the second innings, the new ball was seaming, and the spinners were getting some turn. So, there was something there for the bowlers.” He also commented on the pitch conditions, stating, “The wicket today was such that you had to settle in before looking to hit sixes. Generally, that’s not the case but today was a little different.”
Looking Ahead
Kolkata Knight Riders will aim to bounce back when they face the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on April 3. The team's focus remains on analyzing their performance, adapting to different conditions, and maintaining a positive mindset.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What was the score in the MI vs KKR match? MI defeated KKR by eight wickets.
- Who made key contributions for KKR? Ramandeep Singh (22 runs), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (26 runs), and Andre Russell were key contributors.
- Did KKR blame the pitch conditions for the loss? While acknowledging the impact of the conditions, Ramandeep Singh stated that the team wouldn’t use it as an excuse.
- When is KKR’s next match? KKR’s next match is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 3 at Eden Gardens.