Kolkata Knight Riders have continued their impressive late-season surge, producing yet another commanding display to beat Delhi Capitals and leapfrog them in the points table, keeping their playoff hopes very much alive. After a patchy start where momentum proved hard to sustain, KKR have finally found the right rhythm and have strung together results that have given their campaign fresh energy. With the win lifting them to seventh place, the side now looks like a genuine contender as the tournament heads into its most demanding phase.
Just as importantly, KKR sent out a strong message by successfully chasing Delhi’s 143-run target in under 15 overs, a finish that also provided a significant boost to their net run rate. That combination of two outcomes—securing the points and improving the mathematical picture—has helped their turnaround look more than just a short-lived streak.
However, the victory also sparked debate about KKR’s approach, with India veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin not entirely convinced by some of the team’s tactical choices against Delhi. Ashwin referenced Cameron Green’s role after the batter came in at number four, arguing that KKR need a clearer hierarchy in the batting order. In his view, Green’s batting position should be higher up, and KKR should not treat him as a lower-order finisher. He further stressed that the team must prepare batters who can adjust gears according to the match situation rather than relying on a one-dimensional plan throughout an innings.
“KKR have to find a way to keep the tempo on top [on the batting front]. Cameron Green should bat in the top 3; he’s not a No. 5 or 6 batter. You can’t finish with him. They have to find batters who can bat at different tempos like Rinku Singh. Yes, KKR can win their remaining four games,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin’s comments came after he reacted to Finn Allen’s standout unbeaten century against Delhi Capitals, a knock that powered an eye-catching sequence of play. While discussing Allen’s impact, he praised the batter’s explosive qualities and suggested that performances like that can swing not only the result but also the broader NRR equation for KKR when they are chasing tight margins. He also backed Kolkata as serious contenders if the momentum stays consistent.
In the same conversation, Ashwin pointed to the increasing influence of KKR’s spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. He believes their combination can prove decisive in the business end of the tournament, especially in phases where batters look to take risks and the match can tilt quickly. “Finn Allen has the ability. In such games, he will break the net run rate (NRR). The biggest speciality about KKR is Sunil-Chakaravarthy’s partnership. If they come together, they will win the tournament. The problem was that Varun was being taken for runs; in the last two games, he has come out [of it]. He’s put in a performance because of which Sunil Narine’s bowling has started to shine,” he added.
Ashwin also looked back at why KKR’s early campaign had not matched their eventual form, pointing to injury setbacks and availability constraints as major obstacles in the opening part of the season. He suggested that, had circumstances gone more smoothly, the balance KKR were targeting would have been stronger from the outset. In his assessment, the team did not always get the best out of Rinku Singh during the initial phase, particularly in terms of his batting placement and usage.
“Their plan [at the auction] was Sunil-Chakarvarathy, Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, and Mustafizur Rahman. They would have been in a very, very strong position. It was unlucky for them that Pathirana got ruled out and Rahman was out. Back half of the tournament, they are getting things right. Another thing was that Rinku Singh was playing too much down in the batting order,” Ashwin said.
