IPL 2025: Aaron Finch, Cheteshwar Pujara question KKR's lack of intent during run-chase against GT

Kolkata Knight Riders suffered a 39-run defeat at home against Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens on Monday, April 21. They could only muster 159 for the loss of eight wickets in their 20-over quota, as compared to the visitors' 198/3 in the first innings. The loss marked KKR's fifth defeat in the ongoing season.

Former Australian cricketer, Aaron Finch, questioned the home side's strategy of not attempting to dominate against the opposition's spin attack.

"You need to have an intent to take it [spin] down. You can't hit a six or a boundary if you're not trying to, if your first instinct is to just knock it into the leg side and run one. Then, you're on a hiding to nothing and it was just mesmerising, the lack of intent," shared Finch on ESPNcricinfo.

Indian top-order batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, was unclear on whether the KKR batters, particularly Venkatesh Iyer, was advised to hold back and not take any risks during Rashid Khan's spell.

"There are times when, as a batter, you feel that the conditions are a little challenging. You just want to knock it around but when you have a timeout, the coaches and the support staff come in and you make another strategy, that, 'this is something which is not working, we are leaving too many runs behind'. I do agree that Venkatesh didn't play the role which he should have played. But at the same time, was he told that he just had to knock around when Rashid was bowling and he didn't have to take him on? I don't know what the message was," added Pujara.

That was a horrible batting display: Finch

The former Australian skipper was critical of KKR for being ultra-defensive in their approach during the second innings. He accused the team of not having any sort of urgency to win.

"The game was over after 10 [overs], wasn't it? They just let the required run rate get so far out of hand. It was so strange to watch them just trying to knock it around. Very, very strange innings. They went out with the attitude not to lose by 100 runs. It was almost like, 'You know what, let's get 160, and we'll walk off. We'll be okay with that'. That was a horrible batting display," noted Finch.

Coming in at No. 4, Venkatesh Iyer scored only 14 off 19. His knock did not comprise a single boundary. Skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, was the top-scorer for his side. He was dismissed for a 36-ball 50-run knock. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ramandeep Singh, and Moeen Ali all got out for single-digit scores.