IPL 2023: Two Instances where KKR lost the match against Gujarat Titans

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Kolkata Knight Riders suffered a massive setback after a damaging defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans on Saturday (April 29). The Knights have now lost six matches out of their nine, and staring at another early exit.

It has been a pattern for them to succumb in crunch situations this season, which continued in the GT loss. KKR could manage only 179 runs on a flat Eden Gardens deck, and their bowling was just not good enough to restrict the defending champions.

But there were two moments which significantly played big parts in KKR's demise. KKR captain Nitish Rana exerted after the match that they were losing small moments, which took a toll on the outcomes.

And there were actually two moments, one significantly big, and one which may hide from the vision - which played a huge role in KKR's loss. And to be honest, both were self-inflicted by KKR.

Suyash Sharma dropping David Miller

This was definitely the moment where KKR kind of opened the floodgates. In the 16th over, Andre Russell came into bowl. On the very first ball, David Miller managed a top edge in a short delivery. It was destined to be plucked, but KKR bowler Suyash Sharma failed to even get a hand on it.

It went very high and three players were converging. But the young KKR spinner was the one who attempted the catch and miserably failed. What happened after that? GT scored 49 runs in the next 16 balls to win the match.

Rinku Singh denying Andre Russell a 2nd Run

You don't often see Andre Russell running hard for a second run, but he did in the match against Saturday, and was denied. And from that point onwards, KKR's batting took a downhill slope.

In the 18th over, the first ball of Noor Ahmad was hit for a boundary by Russell. And in the second ball, he tucked past square leg and was running hard for a second. There was a fumble to the ball but KKR batters made a fumble of their own and couldn't complete the second run.

Russell was in a destructive mood prior to that and was taking apart bowlers. But Rinku stayed on strike and departed in the very next ball. The next three balls couldn't yield a run for KKR as David Wiese, the new batter failed to score any. The 18th over just went for 5 runs, and KKR's momentum also took a tumble.

They could manage only 28 runs in their last three overs and an inning which was threatening 200 ended in just 179 runs.