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Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will be eager to regroup and address their faltering batting performances as they take on table-toppers Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens on Monday. After opting to field first at their home ground, KKR will hope to contain the in-form Titans to a manageable total.
Their previous outing ended in embarrassment, with Knight Riders collapsing for a mere 95 runs while chasing 112 against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. The defeat laid bare the persistent struggles plaguing their batting order, prompting urgent introspection within the camp.
Offering a glimmer of hope, Kolkata have welcomed back Abhishek Nayar, recently dismissed as India’s assistant coach by the BCCI. His return, even before his exit from the national team was officially announced, marks a significant boost for the KKR dugout. A former assistant coach of the franchise, Nayar’s familiarity with the setup could prove vital as they strive to revive their campaign.
With just six points from seven matches, KKR need to win at least five of their remaining seven fixtures to remain in playoff contention. Nayar has already started working closely with underperforming batters such as vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and Ramandeep Singh. Iyer, who was the team’s most expensive signing this season at Rs 23.75 crore, has managed only 121 runs at an average of 24.20. Ramandeep’s contribution has been even more modest, scoring just 29 runs across six innings.
Star all-rounder Andre Russell has added a mere 34 runs from five innings, while Rinku Singh, though reliable, has 116 runs at an average of 38.66. The bright spots for KKR have been Ajinkya Rahane, with 221 runs including two half-centuries, and the promising Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who has tallied 170 runs despite some inconsistency. At the top, Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine have had flashes of brilliance but have lacked consistency.
Adding to the intrigue, two different pitches have been prepared for the game, one of which has a grass cover that hasn’t been trimmed. The final surface choice will depend on KKR’s match strategy, though the team has expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of `home advantage`.
Meanwhile, Titans, led by Shubman Gill, have been dominant with just two losses so far. Pacer Prasidh Krishna has spearheaded their bowling unit, claiming 14 wickets at an impressive average of 14.35. His tactical variations and sharp reading of batters were on full display in his four-wicket haul against Lucknow Super Giants, underlining the threat he poses.
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