Angkrish Raghuvanshi is still finding the most complete version of his T20 game, working to turn raw ability into dependable batting across situations. Yet the promise he shows is already leaving a strong impression on Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Shane Watson, who says the young batter’s talent brought back memories of a 17-year-old Sanju Samson he watched during Rajasthan Royals days in 2013.
Watson shared that perspective ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur, noting how regularly the IPL has showcased standout youngsters. “I’ve been lucky to see some extraordinarily talented young players over the years,” he said. “I remember watching Sanju Samson when he was 17, and the skill level really stood out. Angkrish feels like another example of that kind of ability.”
He went on to highlight how Raghuvanshi’s growth has accelerated as he moves further into his early career. “His development at 21 is honestly astonishing,” Watson added. “We’ve already seen flashes of what he can do, but there’s clearly more to come. What catches the eye is how he can adjust to different conditions and different bowlers, while still keeping a broad set of scoring options.”
Still, the numbers bring a more sobering reality into focus. In his third IPL season, Raghuvanshi has played all 10 matches so far, accumulating 269 runs at a strike rate of 135.85. That places him at No. 46 among the 52 batters who have faced at least 100 balls this term. Over his most recent five innings, his strike rate has been 107, with a total of 87 runs.
For KKR, the challenge is two-sided. One part is the middle-of-the-road strike rate, but the other is where those returns are landing in the batting order. Raghuvanshi is currently batting at No. 3, behind skipper Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane’s strike rate of 132.12 at the top is also lower, sitting two spots beneath Raghuvanshi on the same list at No. 48. Together, that adds pressure on KKR to find more momentum from the early phase.
Despite the scrutiny, Watson insists Raghuvanshi’s trajectory points toward a more rounded batter. “Even during training yesterday, on a difficult wicket, some of the things he was doing were ridiculous to watch,” he said. “He’s only going to keep getting better as he learns how to use all that skill consistently. And now he’s keeping wickets too, which makes it even more impressive, because he wasn’t originally a full-time keeper.”
Watson also praised the work ethic behind that transformation. “He’s put in incredible effort and done a brilliant job,” he said. “The best wicketkeepers are the ones you barely notice, because everything looks smooth—and he’s achieved that beautifully. He’s highly skilled, but just as importantly, he’s extremely eager to learn and keep improving. As a coach, those are the dream players to work with.”
Watson’s attention, however, is not only on Raghuvanshi. He is equally enthusiastic about Finn Allen, who arrives after producing an unbeaten 47-ball hundred that dramatically swung the contest against Delhi Capitals in their previous match. While Raghuvanshi’s task is about learning to manage a higher-risk, higher-reward batting approach, Allen’s challenge is more about building consistency without losing the aggression that makes him dangerous.
Watson had a hand in Allen’s development even before the South African’s IPL involvement with KKR, working with him during his time at the San Francisco Unicorns in the MLC. Over the last two years, Watson says he has witnessed steady improvement. Allen broke through early in the season with a 37 off 17 and a 28 off seven, but momentum then dipped, eventually leading to him being dropped from the XII.
Since returning, Allen has made his mark again, scoring 29 and adding a century at the top of the order. Watson believes those performances align with KKR’s recent lift, with the side carrying a run of four wins—an encouraging sign for a team gaining confidence.
“Finn’s challenge has always been finding a balance between his extraordinary ability to hit the ball hard and doing it consistently,” Watson said. “He can take down any bowler in the world, in any conditions. Now the next stage is figuring out which bowlers to target, understanding what his shot choices should be, and knowing when to unleash his full power.”
Watson also pointed to the nuance in Allen’s innings against Delhi, suggesting it offered a clearer blueprint for the kind of adaptability Allen needs to keep growing. “The innings he played in the last game [in Delhi] wasn’t a typical Finn Allen knock,” he said. “Usually he goes hard from ball one. This time he was a bit more controlled early, then really put his foot down against certain bowlers and in the areas he prefers to attack.”
For Watson, that shift is exactly what makes Allen’s progress exciting. “That’s the exciting part of his development—learning when to go all-out and when to dial it back slightly while staying fearless,” he explained. “I’ve enjoyed working with him over the years, and it’s great to see him realise his dream of playing in the IPL and already producing innings that matter. I’ve got no doubt there will be plenty more.”
KKR, after all, have not had an easy season. They went without a win in six matches, but have since gathered momentum. With confidence also potentially drawn from the opposition’s recent story, Watson referenced a similar pattern from Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024, when they were one win in eight before putting together a six-match winning streak to secure a playoff berth. Asked whether KKR are willing to dream bigger, Watson responded with a grounded view of what’s been driving the team.
“To be totally honest, we haven’t really talked about the future at all,” he said. “It sounds cliché, but that genuinely is our approach. What has been most impressive over the last few games is how the group has come together across every part of the game.”
He added that KKR are focusing on executing complete performances rather than chasing headlines. “Against DC, we ticked every box. That’s what we’re chasing—complete performances. We’re confident in the skills inside our squad and in the direction we’re heading. There’s optimism because teams have come from tough spots before and still made deep runs into the finals. But for us, the most important thing is continuing to build full games like we did in the last match,” Watson concluded.
