IPL 2025: KKR Mentor Dwayne Bravo Urges Support for Finishers After Loss to Gujarat Titans

IPL 2025: The Kolkata Knight Riders, reigning champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), suffered a 39-run defeat at the hands of the Gujarat Titans in their eighth match of the season on Monday at Eden Gardens.

Chasing a stiff target of 200, KKR fell short despite a gritty half-century from skipper Ajinkya Rahane. Reflecting on the performance, team mentor Dwayne Bravo acknowledged the team's shortcomings with the bat.

"We didn't post enough runs. Credit to our bowlers - they did a great job to restrict them under 200 and kept us in the game at the halfway mark. Sadly, we didn't get the kind of start we needed during the powerplay and couldn't recover from there," Bravo remarked.

The match saw an unexpected batting order shuffle, with promising youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi walking in at number nine.

Addressing the decision, Bravo explained, "That wasn't the plan initially. The match situation dictated his entry at that position. We're fortunate to have a mix of quality right and left-handers at the top, and we try to leverage that, especially when facing teams with strong spin attacks. Unfortunately, that meant Angkrish had to be pushed down the order."

Bravo also praised Raghuvanshi for his consistent performances this season. "He's been among the more reliable batters for us in terms of runs scored. But considering Gujarat's spin-heavy middle overs, we prioritized maintaining the left-right batting combination to counter that threat."

When asked about Andre Russell's form, Bravo stood firmly behind the West Indian all-rounder. "Russ is a proven match-winner. The reality is, he's often coming in when there are just 14 or 15 balls left. That's a tough ask for any player. We have to support our finishers and trust them to close out games the way they've done for us in the past."

He added, "These guys have delivered over the years, and it's crucial to back them. At the same time, we need to strike a balance between supporting our players and finding the right combination to spark the team. It's something we'll regroup and talk about before our next outing."

Despite the loss, Bravo's message remained optimistic - a mix of support for his players and a desire to get the campaign back on track.