NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Rovman Powell minced no words after his team suffered a nerve-jangling last-ball loss to Lucknow Super Giants, suggesting the outcome may have been affected by an umpiring “blunder” while also acknowledging that Eden Gardens conditions had a say in how the match unfolded.
Chasing a target of 181/4, KKR looked to be steering the contest comfortably as Lucknow slipped to 128/7 after 16 overs. However, the game swung dramatically when Mukul Choudhary unleashed a late surge—finishing unbeaten on 54 from just 27 deliveries—helping Lucknow chase down the target with three wickets in hand on the final ball.
“Maybe it was a blunder”
The main flashpoint arrived earlier in Lucknow’s innings when Finn Allen was dismissed in a disputed fashion. Allen attempted a shot, edged high, and the ball was taken at deep third man. Yet replays indicated the catching boundary might have been grazed, raising questions over whether the ball had stayed in play. Despite the uncertainty, the on-field officials did not send the matter for review.
Powell pointed directly to the lack of additional scrutiny. “Definitely more angles should have been looked at. We felt we’d seen in the IPL that umpires go upstairs for smaller calls, and not as close as that,” he said.
He stopped short of assigning full responsibility to the referees, adding, “Maybe it was a blunder on their part, but we’re not going to say that is what cost us two points tonight.”
“Not a 220-wicket”
Powell also spoke about the pitch at Eden Gardens, stressing that it was far from the kind of flat surface that typically invites huge totals. In his view, the track offered something for bowlers and made batting less straightforward than fans might associate with the venue.
“It’s not that classic Eden Gardens wicket where you just go and blast. It was not a 220-wicket; there was a little bit in it for the bowlers, especially with slower balls,” he explained.
Even with KKR coming up short, Powell praised Mukul’s composure in the closing stages. “You want to make Eden Gardens your fortress… but credit to the youngster, he batted really well,” he said.
KKR’s campaign has not gone smoothly so far, with only one point from their first four matches. Still, Powell believes the team can recover. “If you see the history, winners build momentum in the middle and back end. It’s not easy when you don’t start well, but our destiny is still in our hands. We still have 10 games left,” he concluded.
