Good morning,
If you're a KKR fan waking up to another defeat, you'll be pleased to know this isn't Groundhog Day. It's a new day, just wearing the same purple and gold suit.
Here's Cricbuzz Pulse, your 2-min scan of the IPL verse.
@B0$
KKR were bowled out for 180 and @L0$; they are still winless after six games.
Rahane fell first ball, but Green counterpunched with 79 off 55 to give the innings some fight.
From 147/4, KKR had the base but the usual finishing issues with Rinku and Ramandeep hurt.
Rabada and Siraj set it up early with three-over opening spells and shared five wickets between them.
Gill looked a million dollars in his 50-ball 86, carving through a packed offside like it was his Poila Baisakh steak.
@B1$
Ajinkya Rahane chose to bat first, wanting his batters to "play freely". The call was also @L1$, with the venue tending to reward big totals, though it has been unforgiving to middling scores like the 180 KKR eventually managed. And it came down to how KKR batted against Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, both of whom exploited seam movement to reduce them to 37/3, sharing three Powerplay wickets while inducing a season-high 48.6% false shots. By the time the field spread, KKR's call at the toss has sort of already backfired.
@B2$
The @B3$ award is shared by Cameron Green (for a few lucky escapes during his innings) and Shubman Gill (for that carefully maintained stubble).
The @B4$ award goes to the KKR dugout for that slightly overcooked standing ovation to Green's half-hundred milestone.
The @B5$ award goes to Andre Russell, who as a power coach can't finish games himself.
The @B6$ award goes to Ajinkya Rahane for still being able to find positives six matches into a winless run.
@B7$
While Cameron Green impressed with 79 and a sharp catch to dismiss Shubman Gill, his absence with the ball left KKR short while defending a below-par total. The all-rounder did not bowl at all. "He was actually struggling with his cramps. That's the reason he was in and out on the field as well. So that's the reason he didn't bowl," captain Ajinkya Rahane said at the post-match presentation.
@B8$
Rahane only wants to "talk positives" and credited his bowlers for taking the defence to the last over. He felt how half-volleys with new ball were coming on the ball well and hard lengths were holding up, and hinted that his bowlers were too full in the Powerplay. "Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill batted beautifully. Powerplay was important, but I just want to talk about the positives about our bowlers."
Gill doesn't think "it matters" that he's batting like 2023 and was "quite disappointed with the way I got out". He revealed that in the two months before this, when he wasn't playing the WC, he worked on his fitness and mental aspect, "not just technically, but tactically as well".
Stephen Fleming felt that CSK can "cover for Ruturaj for a few games" and hope he comes into form, given the "quality player" he is. He also said "we talk about everything" when asked if Mhatre is an opening option.
@B9$
No wins in seven games is KKR's second-longest winless streak, behind the nine-match slide in IPL 2009.
@B10$
Birdies say don't rule out a mid-season kit switch for KKR. They've been here before. Nine straight losses in 2009, and the black in the kit made way for purple. With no captaincy options and form in short supply, the only thing left to tweak might be the jersey.
"If you can't change the man, change the colour," said a totally unreliable and unreal source.
@B11$
In the afternoon, @L2$ at home, which is soon becoming a fortress. In the evening, @L3$ as both teams look to get consistent after early jitters.
@B12$
A jet-lagged Pat Cummins is going to carry drinks and still look like he could be cast as the next James Bond.
