Kolkata Knight Riders are facing a frustrating pattern of gaps across their batting and bowling departments, and the concern isn’t limited to one department or one phase of an innings. From the way they start their powerplay to how their middle order holds shape, from whether they can consistently close out games to the effectiveness of both their pace attack and spin options, the franchise hasn’t been able to build any clear area of dominance. Even the players who have drawn the most scrutiny—such as Cameron Green and Ajinkya Rahane—haven’t managed to turn the spotlight away from the team’s broader struggles, and the pressure has only intensified because their finishing has also failed to deliver regularly.
One name that has become a focal point in that debate is Rinku Singh. The finisher has not been finding his usual rhythm, and the drop in output has made his role under the microscope. Kris Srikkanth, the 1983 World Cup winner and a former India batter, has gone a step further by questioning whether Rinku is being asked to do something he simply cannot. Srikkanth’s view is blunt: Rinku, in his assessment, is better at keeping the scoreboard moving through strike rotation than at consistently clearing the boundary—an ability that becomes crucial when a team expects him to finish with authority from the middle stages.
Srikkanth argued that Rinku’s best moments have often come from managing balls and partners rather than accelerating through big hits. He referenced the way the conversation still circles around a past burst of power hitting, suggesting it has overshadowed the bigger question of whether the batter can consistently handle the high-pressure run requirement that typically comes with the finisher’s job. “Rinku Singh is not an explosive player. He hit five sixes in five balls ages ago, and we keep talking about that. He is adept at rotating the strike, but he can struggle when the required run rate exceeds 10 or 12. He can’t do it,” Srikkanth said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
From there, Srikkanth proposed a change in batting position, believing the Knight Riders would be better served by moving Rinku down the order. In his opinion, Rinku’s skill set aligns more naturally with a No. 7 role, where the match situation can allow him to impact in a way that doesn’t demand the same level of boundary-hitting responsibility that comes with batting at No. 5. “He is more suited for the No. 7 position as a finisher. He can perform when 50 runs are needed off 5 overs. Rinku shouldn’t be tasked with batting at No. 5 to build an innings. It won’t work,” he added, also pointing out that Rinku has previously been used in the finisher’s mould for the senior national side.
Srikkanth’s criticism, however, did not stop with Rinku. He expressed disappointment with the overall KKR batting unit, suggesting that apart from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, the rest of the lineup has not shown enough “intent” during the current season. In other words, the former India cricketer believes the batters have not consistently taken control of their innings early enough to make the chase or the set target manageable. “The key issue with their batting is that none of their batters, except Angkrish Raghuvanshi, have shown intent,” Srikkanth commented.
With that assessment in place, Srikkanth also weighed in on Finn Allen, describing him as someone who should have made a bigger mark but has instead struggled more than anyone. He suggested Allen’s approach has looked too erratic, with the batter attempting shots in a way that doesn’t allow him to settle, and argued that this kind of plan is unlikely to succeed at the top level of T20 cricket. “This is when Finn Allen should make an impact. However, he is struggling more than anyone. He is swinging wildly, more than I did in my days. This approach won’t work. He has been dismissed playing the same shot in the last five matches. I think that is it for him,” Srikkanth said.
To complete his point, Srikkanth indicated a possible solution for the Knight Riders’ squad. He stated that Tim Seifert should come in to replace Allen, reinforcing his belief that the team needs a change that can bring more stability to the batting card rather than continued exposure to a failing pattern. “Tim Seifert will replace him,” he added.
